Classrooms Destroyed in Blaze

From UTV News 28 August 2009:

Two mobile classrooms at Castlewellan’s Irish Language school have been destroyed in an arson attack.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were called to Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche at Circular Road around 4am on Friday morning.

It took them four hours to bring the blaze under control.

The school is sited in the grounds of Down Council Community Hall.

Local SDLP councillor, Eamonn O’Neill said: “This is a downright disgusting act.”

Mr O’Neill said it looked like arsonists took a shopping trolley from a local supermarket, filled it with newspaper, pushed it against one of the classrooms and set it on fire in what he called “a cowardly attack”.

‘Hard work’

He added: “As a member of the management committee I know at first-hand the amount of hard work that has gone into this school and preparing it for the new school year. Let me make this clear, that hard work will continue.

“Unfortunately lots of records and reports and the labours of years of hard work by both teachers and pupils have been destroyed but thankfully, over time, these can be replaced.”

Pupils are due to return for the start of the new school year on Tuesday.

The local education board has already located three replacement mobiles which will be put in place as soon as possible.

“In the meantime Down Council is going to accommodate the whole school in the hall, even if it means cancelling some other events,” Mr O’Neill said.

Sinn Fein MLA Willie Clarke said: “This arson attack has destroyed this school and has shocked the community, the teachers and those who attend the school.

“What is particularly sickening is that this attack comes only days before the school and nursery were set to reopen for the new school year.”

He appealed for anyone with information about the fire to contact police.

‘Affront’

The arson was the latest in a string of attacks on schools during the summer holidays.

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said she was appalled at what had gone on.

“These attacks are an affront to everyone in the community as they disrupt the education and wellbeing of our young people.”

She added: “These attacks result in scarse public resources having to be spent on repairs and rebuilding instead of being used for other programmes benefiting everyone.”

Plans for a new building for the school are being progressed and planning permission has recently been granted.

The minister said in the meantime her department was working closely with the South Eastern Education and Library Board and the school to make arrangements as quickly as possible to minimise the impact on the education of the children.

The PSNI said they were investigating the fire and forensic experts were examining the remains.