Church Hall and Orange Lodge burnt by arsonists
Police in the North West were today hunting for clues after a landmark Presbyterian church hall and Orange lodge building were damaged in overnight republican arson attacks.
Glenbank Presbyterian church hall near Quigley's Point, Co Donegal, was gutted after a fire was started at around 2am. Firefighters from Londonderry and Donegal fought for over two hours but failed to bring the blaze under control.
Residents noticed the blaze after the fire hit a power line and caused an electricity blackout. Earlier, firefighters managed to stop a blaze spreading through Victoria Hall at Culmore Point in Londonderry. An off-duty fireman alerted colleagues to the blaze just after midnight.
Detectives said the entrance and stairs of the building were scorched while the rest of the interior was smoke damaged. A cross-border team of detectives was today conducting forensic examinmations. Both incidents are being treated as malicious and the work of republicans..
Stunned members of the Glenbank congregation today gathered at the ruined church hall, which was built over a century ago. Groundsman Charlie McCauley said that all sections of the community would be outraged at the attacks.
"To come here this morning and to see this place devastated, I just can't believe it. I am disgusted." David Rankin said that the church had been fundraising and laid the foundations for an extension to the hall.
He added: "The hall has been completely destroyed and now it looks as if it might be torn down. "There is no reason for anyone to do this in this community. This is a very close knit community. These people are just sick."
Northland Road sub officer Jonathan Tate said that a flammable liquid seemed to have been used to start the fires. Speaking of the Donegal fire, he said: "By the time we arrived the fire was already through the roof. It is completely gutted and only the four walls are left."
Donegal-based Inspector Greg Sullivan said that gardai would be working with the PSNI in Londonderry to establish links between the cases.
Click on related links below
Republicans damage Orange hall
