Northern Ireland

Co Armagh church minister vows services will continue despite arson attack

Myrtle Morrison stands beside the damage caused by arsonists to her church in Drumgor, Craigavon. Picture by Mal McCann
Myrtle Morrison stands beside the damage caused by arsonists to her church in Drumgor, Craigavon. Picture by Mal McCann Myrtle Morrison stands beside the damage caused by arsonists to her church in Drumgor, Craigavon. Picture by Mal McCann

A CO Armagh church minister last night vowed that services will continue despite an overnight arson attack.

Roof tiles were removed from St Saviour's Church of Ireland in Craigavon and an accelerant poured into the building yesterday morning.

Police said "something was dropped through and set alight" during the attack on the building on Drumgor West Road at around 4.20am.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Damage was caused to the inside of the property following the incident, with no-one reported inside the premises.

"Enquiries are continuing and at this stage, the fire is being treated as deliberate."

Rev Myrtle Morrison said it was "disappointing for the congregation" that damage had been caused to the building following months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We were alerted by fire alarm and when we went down we could smell the smoke," she said.

"We phoned the fire service and they were here quickly, which I think helped in the damage not being as bad.

"Roof tiles had been lifted off and some sort of accelereant poured in and set on fire.

"It's disappointing for the congregation who have worked hard on the building, particularly lately in getting things sorted again after being closed for all those months. But we won't let us disrupt our services.

"I think it's just vandalism, it's not sectarian - all the organisations here are from right across the community.

"There is no big damage thankfully, a bit of smoke and water damage, so we are very thankful."

DUP MP Carla Lockhart said the attack was "reprehensible."

"Those who engage in such mindless behaviour contribute nothing to our society but hurt and harm. I urge the community to work alongside the PSNI to being the perpetrators to justice."

UUP MLA Doug Beattie said: "There is no excuse whatsoever for this kind of behaviour and regardless of whether the motivation is sectarianism or vandalism, the person or persons responsible, needs to be caught and made amenable for their crime.

"This church is part of the central Craigavon community...To see it attacked is a blow to a community that already feels isolated within the borough."

SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly described the attack as "utterly disgraceful".

"Causing criminal damage to a church that does such positive work in the community is appalling and I condemn it completely," she said.

Alliance councillor Eóin Tennyson described it as an "act of hate".

"Everyone should be free to attend their place of worship without fear of intimidation," he said.