Car thieves attempted to burn down Catholic school

A Catholic secondary school in Co Down has been damaged this morning after a stolen car was driven through perimeter fencing before an attempt was made to ram the car into the school's reception area.

At around 4am this morning, the green Volkswagon Polo – which had been stolen in the Tonagh Drive area of Lisburn – was driven into the school grounds on the Ballinderry Road and reversed towards the front door of the school at high speed. The car was only stopped from causing serious damage by a metal handrail at the entrance. The vehicle was then set alight and the school suffered minor scorch damage. Several windows were also smashed during the incident.

This was the second attack on the school in as many weeks.

Parish priest Father Sean Rogan said the attack was "a very sad state of affairs".

"Had they gone a few feet just to the left of the handrail they would have got right into the school… and we would have had St Patrick's school burned to the ground," Fr Rogan said. "We are very upset at what is happening."

Fr Rogan said that there were four Catholic churches in the area, and in recent years two had been burned out, and another badly damaged. He said that the churches had been hit by gunfire and vandals had caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to church property.

Fr Rogan hailed the emergency services for their response to the incident.

(GMcG)