10 April 1997 Edition
Churches firebombed
By Mick Naughton.
The Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh has said that those who made anti-Catholic speeches were partly to blame for arson attacks on chapels in Randalstown, Antrim and Laurel Vale in Armagh. In the latest attack loyalist arsonists burnt to the ground the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Mullavilly, Laurel Vale, near Portadown. The 226 year old church was the second oldest in the Archdiocese of Armagh.
The firebombing of the Catholic church follows the destruction of nearby St Patrick's at Stonebridge. That church's old school and parochial house have also been firebombed recently.
For Father Kieran MacOscar it was the second time in four years he has witnessed the destruction of a church in his parish while Sinn Fein's Upper Bann Westminster candidate Bernadette O'Hagan said arson attacks on churches were ``a direct consequence of the continuing attempts by elements within the unionist and loyalist communities to intimidate Catholics attending weekly mass at Harryville in Ballymena'', itself the target of a paint bomb attack last Saturday night after the weekly loyalist protest.
O'Hagan also hit out at those behind fire damage at St Patrick's Church of Ireland church in Donaghmore in County Tyrone after window frames were set alight. Fortunately this fire burnt itself out but one at a temporary building being used by Dungivens Church of Ireland congregation caused considerable damage to furniture and some catering equipment.
St MacNissi's chapel in Randalstown County Antrim the first target, at the weekend, of loyalist firebombers was totally destroyed after firefighters failed to save the blazing building. The attack happened within hours of a loyalist parade in Portadown addressed by Ian Paisley. Within an hour of that attack St Comgalls in Antrim town was set alight. The loyalists waited until Antrim firecrews were on their way to St MacNissi's before setting the Antrim fire. Firefighters, however, managed to contain the second fire.
Father William McKeever, parish priest at St MacNissi's said he was devastated by the attack on the 25 year old church. ``Everybody is genuinely shocked. This is a very close community. The church meant so much to them. We've had people married here, children baptised and confirmed and the destruction seems like the death of a relative,'' he said.
Gerry Adams calls for an end to the firebomb attacks, ``attacks on Catholic churches are just as wrong and sectarian as those carried out on Protestant churches''.
The Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh has said that those who made anti-Catholic speeches were partly to blame for arson attacks on chapels in Randalstown, Antrim and Laurel Vale in Armagh. In the latest attack loyalist arsonists burnt to the ground the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Mullavilly, Laurel Vale, near Portadown. The 226 year old church was the second oldest in the Archdiocese of Armagh.
The firebombing of the Catholic church follows the destruction of nearby St Patrick's at Stonebridge. That church's old school and parochial house have also been firebombed recently.
For Father Kieran MacOscar it was the second time in four years he has witnessed the destruction of a church in his parish while Sinn Fein's Upper Bann Westminster candidate Bernadette O'Hagan said arson attacks on churches were ``a direct consequence of the continuing attempts by elements within the unionist and loyalist communities to intimidate Catholics attending weekly mass at Harryville in Ballymena'', itself the target of a paint bomb attack last Saturday night after the weekly loyalist protest.
O'Hagan also hit out at those behind fire damage at St Patrick's Church of Ireland church in Donaghmore in County Tyrone after window frames were set alight. Fortunately this fire burnt itself out but one at a temporary building being used by Dungivens Church of Ireland congregation caused considerable damage to furniture and some catering equipment.
St MacNissi's chapel in Randalstown County Antrim the first target, at the weekend, of loyalist firebombers was totally destroyed after firefighters failed to save the blazing building. The attack happened within hours of a loyalist parade in Portadown addressed by Ian Paisley. Within an hour of that attack St Comgalls in Antrim town was set alight. The loyalists waited until Antrim firecrews were on their way to St MacNissi's before setting the Antrim fire. Firefighters, however, managed to contain the second fire.
Father William McKeever, parish priest at St MacNissi's said he was devastated by the attack on the 25 year old church. ``Everybody is genuinely shocked. This is a very close community. The church meant so much to them. We've had people married here, children baptised and confirmed and the destruction seems like the death of a relative,'' he said.
Gerry Adams calls for an end to the firebomb attacks, ``attacks on Catholic churches are just as wrong and sectarian as those carried out on Protestant churches''.