Gardai probe arson attacks on two Midlands churches

A TD has said gardai are following a “definite line of enquiry” in relation to one of two fires which damaged doors of two churches in Co Westmeath in the early hours of Friday morning.

It appears attempts were made to burn down both St James's Church in Kilbeggan and St Michael's Church in Castletown-Geoghegan.

Speaking in a video message on social media after attending Mass in Castletown-Geoghegan on Sunday, Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy said what happened on Friday morning was “absolutely disgraceful”.

Deputy Troy described the church as a “very special place for the community of Castletown and the wider area”.

He added: “I know from talking to my council colleague Liam McDaniel who's been engaged with the community gardai that they're following a definite line of enquiry and I certainly hope that whoever carried out this malicious, needless act is brought to bear.”

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Offaly native, Fr Barry Condron, PP, Castletown-Geoghegan, said the first attack at 2am was in Kilbeggan.

“Cloths were laid across the front door of the church. Diesel oil was poured over them before being set alight. Soon afterwards, following notification from a smoke alarm monitoring station the

parish priest Fr Brendan Corrigan arrived at the scene and was able to quench the fire with a fire extinguisher. Damage was significant but thankfully limited due to the early interventions.”

Fr Condron said a similar fire was started 10km away in Castletown “some hours later”.

Once again cloths and diesel oil were used to ignite the main door (damage to door pictured below) of the church and the fire was discovered by local church volunteer Mike Garvin who alerted the fire service and Fr Condron.

“Were it not for the quick actions of Mike Garvin and the subsequent intervention of the fire services, the church would have been [engulfed] with fire within an estimated 10 to 15 minutes,” said the parish priest.

Fr Condron said the “earlier than usual” arrival of Mr Garvin at the church and the close proximity of the fire services “who were already mobilised having dealt with another incident was fortuitous in the extreme”.

The priest said he was shocked to receive the call from Mr Garvin and mentioned arriving at the scene not knowing what would greet him.

He said the shock of seeing the fire in the church in Castletown was further compounded when fire service personnel told him it had been started deliberately.

“Thankfully the fire had been restricted to the entrance area and was extinguished just in time although there was some smoke damage to the church. Thankfully no one was injured or harmed in any way.”

Fr Condron said gardai are continuing their investigations into both incidents and are eager to hear from anyone who may have information or CCTV or dashcam footage from early on Friday morning in the vicinity of the crimes or or along the possible routes taken by the perpetrators.

Fr Condron thanked Mike Garvin, who he credited with saving the church, plus Westmeath Fire Service for their quick and professional response.

He also thanked gardai who responded so promptly and who are continuing their investigations. Fr. Barry paid tribute to those who have shown such huge support, “primarily the wonderful people of the parish young and older for all their help and actions”.

“They are a wonderful people,” he said. He also thanked Most Rev Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath, and his fellow priests for their assistance and support.

St Michael's and St James's churches remained open over the weekend and repairs will commence to both shortly.