Northern Ireland

Former south Armagh school building 'gutted' in fire

Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty at the site of the former Anamar Primary School which was damaged in a 'deliberate' fire
Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty at the site of the former Anamar Primary School which was damaged in a 'deliberate' fire Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty at the site of the former Anamar Primary School which was damaged in a 'deliberate' fire

AN arson attack on a former school in south Armagh has been described as a "disgusting attack" on the whole community.

The Fire Service was called to the site of Anamar Primary School, between Cullyhanna and Crossmaglen, early yesterday.

The building was gutted in the blaze, which police are treating as "deliberate".

Anamar Primary School, which was built in the 1950s, closed in June 2017, despite a dedicated campaign by parents to keep it open.

Its future had been under threat for many years, with a proposal to close the school back in 2009.

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) also proposed closing the school in August 2016, subject to the outcome of a public consultation period with the final decision on the school’s future resting with the then Education Minister, John O’Dowd.

At the time, CCMS provided assurances that adequate provisions would be put in place for the pupils of the school.

As a result, St Patrick’s Primary School in Crossmaglen and Clonalig Primary School in Culloville were allowed to increase their admissions.

Speaking yesterday following the fire, Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty said the community had been left "devastated" by the damage to the school site.

"The roof is gone, the walls, everything, it has gutted the building," he said.

"The community are devastated. They had great plans (for) dealing with isolation and mental health to try and integrate a community hub to be used by several groups in the community. It would would have been ideal for gardening and a men's shed, something for all the community.

"Those plans have been ruined by this criminal act. The anger in the community is palpable. Those responsible should be ashamed and must be held accountable".

Mr Hearty, who had sat on the Board of Governors of Anamar Primary School, described what had happened as a "disgusting attack on the community".

"Whoever was involved in this, it was pure and utter thuggery. It's the lowest of the low," he said.

A PSNI spokeswoman said the fire was being treated as "deliberate" and appealed for information.

A Fire Service spokeswoman said the service was alerted to the call just before 8.15am yesterday.

"The fire had been burning for some time and caused extensive damage to the school," she said.

"The fire was brought under control by 10.16am. The cause of the fire is under investigation".