Northern Ireland

Former Derry school extensively damaged in arson attack

A second former Derry school has been extensively damaged in an arson attack as work starts on the demolition of the gutted shell of the former Foyle College building after it was destroyed in an arson attack in July. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
A second former Derry school has been extensively damaged in an arson attack as work starts on the demolition of the gutted shell of the former Foyle College building after it was destroyed in an arson attack in July. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin A second former Derry school has been extensively damaged in an arson attack as work starts on the demolition of the gutted shell of the former Foyle College building after it was destroyed in an arson attack in July. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

SUBSTANTIAL damage has been caused to a former school in what police believe is the latest in a number of arson attacks on the building.

Police warned that those behind the ongoing attacks on the former Ebrington primary school in Derry's Waterside were putting their own lives at risk.

The school has been vacant after it closed following the building of a new campus incorporating Ebrington and Foyle college grammar school which moved from Derry’s west bank to the Waterside earlier this year.

Monday night' incident follows a similar arson attack in July which completely gutted the former Foyle College building at Foyle Springs.

Work on the demolition of the empty shell of the Foyle College building started this week.

Following the latest attack, DUP councillor, David Ramsey called for the building to be demolished.

News that work has started on the demolition of the former college building was welcomed by SDLP councillor Shauna Cusack.

Ms Cusack said: "The ongoing vandalism at the building culminated in the arson attack which gutted the building in early summer."

She said the work was an important step on plans to move the city's Ardnashee School from its current locaction at Belmont to the Foyle Springs site.

"It is also tinged with sadness as many will hold special memories of either working or attending the school in the past.