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Children aged 10 and 11 quizzed about Holy Child PS school fire in Derry

The damage caused at Holy Child Primary School in Derry's Creggan estate after an arson attack on Monday night
The damage caused at Holy Child Primary School in Derry's Creggan estate after an arson attack on Monday night The damage caused at Holy Child Primary School in Derry's Creggan estate after an arson attack on Monday night

THREE children, aged 10 and 11, have been questioned by police about an arson attack at on a primary school in Derry.

The children, two boys aged 10 and an 11-year-old girl, were interviewed about a fire at Holy Child primary school after they attended Strand Road PSNI station voluntarily.

Neighbourhood policing inspector, Jonathan Hunter said the children were quizzed about a fire which caused damage to the roof of the school on Monday night.

“They were interviewed and subsequently released pending a report to the youth diversion officer,” Inspector Hunter said.

Fire fighters were able to bring Monday’s blaze under control before it spread to the main building of the school in the Creggan area of the city and children were able to attend class as normal on Tuesday morning. It subsequently emerged that material placed on the roof in preparation for building work was deliberately set on fire.

The incident was described as deplorable by principal Orla McDonnell who later praised the efforts of parents for their response to the attack saying they had been hugely supportive.