Gardaí are continuing to investigate two fires at separate Catholic churches in Co Westmeath in recent days.
Gardaí say they attended a scene of criminal damage by fire at St James’s Church in Kilbeggan on Friday morning. Separately, the force attended a scene of criminal damage at a St Michael’s Catholic Church in Castletown Geoghegan in the early hours of Friday.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of criminal damage by fire at a premises in Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath on Friday March 6.
The Garda Press Office said: “Gardaí were alerted to the incident at approximately 4:30am. No injuries were reported. The scene is being preserved for a technical examination. Investigations are ongoing.”
The incident in Kilbeggan, Westmeath is also being treated as an incident of criminal damage.
It is understood damage was caused to the front doors of both churches.
Fr. Barry Condron, Parish Priest of Castletown Geoghegan Parish, told Gript that just before 2am, the first attack took place at St. James Church 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,” said Fr Condron.
‘THE CHURCH WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGULFED WITH FLAMES WITHIN 15 MINUTES’
The parish priest said that some hours later, a similar fire was started at the door of St. Michael’s Parish Church in Castletown Geoghegan Parish, just 10 kilometers away.
“Once again, cloths and diesel oil were used to ignite the main door of the church. The fire was discovered by local Church volunteer Mike Garvin who alerted the fire service and the parish Priest Fr. Barry 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 Fr Condron.
PRIEST CREDITS LOCAL MAN WITH SAVING CHURCH
“Both the earlier than usual arrival of Mike Garvin at the church and close proximity of the Fire services who were already mobilised having dealt with another incident was fortuitous in the extreme according to Fr. Barry. He spoke of the shock receiving the call from Mile Garvin in the early hours of Friday morning and of arriving at the scene not knowing what would greet him.
The shock of seeing the fire in the church was further compounded when members of the fire services told him that the fire was deliberately started. 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.”
The priest confirmed that Gardai are continuing to investigate both incidents, and are eager to hear from anyone who may have information or CCTV or dash-cam footage from early Friday morning in the vicinity of the crimes or along the possible routes taken by the perpetrators.
Fr Barry Condron expressed his sincere thanks to local man Mike Garvin whom he credits for saving the Church in Castletown and also to Westmeath Fire Service for their quick and professional response.
He also thanked Gardai who responded so promptly and who are continuing their investigations, while praising 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, whilst also thanking Bishop Tom Deenihan and his fellow priests for their assistance and support. St. Michaels and St. James church remained open over the weekend and repairs will commence to both churches shortly.
Local TD Robert Troy said on Sunday that he was appalled at the suspected arson at the local Church in Castletown Geoghegan.
“Just after Sunday Mass here at Castletown Geoghegan Church. Absolutely disgraceful what happened here on Friday morning – where somebody attempted to set the church alight, burning their front doors. It’s a very special place for the community of Castletown and the wider area,” said Troy.
The Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD said that Gardai were following a definite line of inquiry, adding, “I certainly hope that whoever carried out this malicious, needless act, is brought to bear.”
Local Cllr Liam McDaniel said that not much is known about the nature of the fires at this time.
“There was fire damage through the church in Castletown Geoghegan, and the door of the church was damaged. The fire services were called to it,” he told the local media.
“Coincidentally there was also a fire at the door of the church in Kilbeggan. The fire service was called to Castletown Geoghegan, I believe the local priest dealt with the Kilbeggan blaze himself, and the fire services weren’t called there,” Cllr McDaniel said.
“It’s an awful thing to happen, we don’t know any details but if it is vandalism the Gardaí will surely be investigating it.”