Drop Down Menu
  Search...
 
  Business Directory Ad  

 

Church leaders jointly condemn arson attacks 06.10.14

CHURCH leaders have joined together to condemn a spate of arson attacks on Orange Halls in Co Donegal.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the Catholic, Methodist, Church of Ireland and Presbyterian churches in counties Derry and Donegal said the malicious fires were "deplored" by the entire community.
Signatories to the weekend statement were the Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce; the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown; the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good; Acting Superintendent of the North West Methodist Mission, Paul Gallucci and Moderator of the Presbytery of Derry and Donegal, John Hanna.
Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown, left, and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Ken Good.
Their message follows an arson attack which destroyed the Orange Hall in Kiltoal, Convoy, Co Donegal, in the early hours of Friday.
The blaze, which was discovered about 4am, gutted the main hall of the building and destroyed the roof.
An attempt to burn down Convoy's Presbyterian Church the same night failed when the fire did not catch hold.
Both incidents followed a malicious fire which destroyed the Orange Hall 14km away in Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, on September 14.
Most of the roof, interiors and many items of Orange Lodge memorabilia were ruined in the blaze. The hall was also attacked by arsonists in 2010.
"Malicious fire damage to two Orange Halls and a Presbyterian church in Co Donegal within a two-week period is a very unfortunate and regrettable development," the church leaders said in their statement.
"The people of Convoy and of Newtowncunningham most affected by the wilful damage to these buildings have been assured that these incidents are deplored by the whole community.
"It is heartening to hear local political, community and church leaders speaking with one voice in condemning the attacks and in acknowledging that such incidents cause distress and sadness to themselves as well as to the whole community," the statement concluded.
Add to Favorites :: Return to > Top Stories    > News    > Home