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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Arson at Irish language school | Arson at Irish language school |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Three mobile classrooms at an Irish language school in Castlewellan in County Down have been destroyed in an arson attack. | Three mobile classrooms at an Irish language school in Castlewellan in County Down have been destroyed in an arson attack. |
| The alarm was raised at Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche at Circular Road shortly after 0400 BST on Friday. | The alarm was raised at Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche at Circular Road shortly after 0400 BST on Friday. |
| It was reported that a mobile classroom was on fire. The scene is being examined to establish the exact cause of the blaze. | It was reported that a mobile classroom was on fire. The scene is being examined to establish the exact cause of the blaze. |
| School principal Aedin Geary described the incident as "heartbreaking". | School principal Aedin Geary described the incident as "heartbreaking". |
| "We just got word on Monday that we had planning permission for our new school which is very near to where we are at the minute," she said. | "We just got word on Monday that we had planning permission for our new school which is very near to where we are at the minute," she said. |
| "We were really delighted about that and looking forward to going back to school with the kids." | "We were really delighted about that and looking forward to going back to school with the kids." |
| SDLP councillor Eamonn O'Neill, who is on the school's management committee, said he believed the fire was "malicious". | SDLP councillor Eamonn O'Neill, who is on the school's management committee, said he believed the fire was "malicious". |
| "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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| "Let me make this clear, that hard work will continue. | "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." | "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." |
| The fire was reported at 4am on Friday morning | The fire was reported at 4am on Friday morning |
| Sinn Fein South Down MLA Willie Clarke's daughter is a pupil at the school. | Sinn Fein South Down MLA Willie Clarke's daughter is a pupil at the school. |
| He said: "This arson attack has destroyed this school and has shocked the community, the teachers and the those who attend the school." | He said: "This arson attack has destroyed this school and has shocked the community, the teachers and the 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." | "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." |
| The police are investigating a motive but do not believe the attack was sectarian. |