Gardai continuing to investigate church fire

GARDAÍ in Balbriggan are continuing to investigate a suspected arson attack on a north county Dublin church.

Emergency services were called to the scene at St Maur’s Church on Whitestown Road, Rush, last Monday, January 21. Three units of Dublin Fire Brigade successfully contained and extinguished the blaze.

The fire, which is believed to have been an act of mindless vandalism, shocked the local parish in Rush and, at the time of going to press, the church remained closed.

A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office told Northside People:

“Gardaí in Balbriggan are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at St Maur’s Church on Whitestown Road between the hours of 10pm on January 20 and 8.05am on January 21.

“The scene has been technically examined and the investigation is continuing.

?

Local Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) condemned the attack.

“This was an act of mindless vandalism that has badly damaged a much loved local church,

? he said.

“I would urge anyone with information on the fire to contact the gardai.

“The attack highlights the impact of a lack of a Garda presence in Rush.

“Criminals feel they can act with impunity because there are no gardaí based in the town anymore.

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Senator O’Brien said that since the closure of the Garda station in Rush last year, he has noticed that people have become increasingly concerned about burglaries and vandalism in the area.

“We cannot have a situation where criminals see the residents of Rush as an easy target,

? he declared.

“I am calling for a satellite Garda facility to be established at Rush Community Centre with immediate effect.

“We need to maintain a Garda presence in the area and ease the worries of local people.

“I will be raising this with the Government as a priority.

?

One local resident told Northside People that there is increasing concern in the town over the lack of a Garda presence.

“We are constantly hearing reports of burglaries in the area and there is no evidence of additional gardai on the beat in Rush since the closure of the Garda station,

? he said.