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10/06/2002
Education Minister condemns recent arson attacks
The recent spate of attacks on schools across the province has been condemned by the Education Minister Martin McGuinness.
The latest incident involved an arson attack on St Columbanus High School on the Ballymaconnell Road shortly after midnight on Sunday.
Substantial damage was caused to two classrooms while the rest of the building suffered smoke and water damage.
Inspector Ian McCoy of Bangor police said only the quick reactions of police and the Fire Service prevented more damage being caused to the building.
The Catholic school will remain closed on Monday, except for year 12 students who are due to sit exams.
Meanwhile, two classrooms were damaged at Our Lady and St Patrick’s College at Kingsway Gardens in east Belfast on Saturday June 8.
The alarm was raised at 1.45am after flammable liquid was poured into an art room and corridor and then a petrol bomb was thrown in the attack on the college.
“An attack on a school is an attack on the community, on our children, our teachers and the entire education system,” Mr McGuinness said today.
“I am extremely concerned and saddened that any school should be damaged by wanton vandalism. These acts of mindless damage serve no purpose other than to divert money away from the classroom where it is most needed.
“All our children have the right to the best we can provide and that also means good, modern and safe schools. Acts of vandalism strip them of this right and are fundamentally anti-social. Everyone in a position of responsibility in our society needs to make it clear that these attacks are totally unacceptable.”
(AMcE)
The latest incident involved an arson attack on St Columbanus High School on the Ballymaconnell Road shortly after midnight on Sunday.
Substantial damage was caused to two classrooms while the rest of the building suffered smoke and water damage.
Inspector Ian McCoy of Bangor police said only the quick reactions of police and the Fire Service prevented more damage being caused to the building.
The Catholic school will remain closed on Monday, except for year 12 students who are due to sit exams.
Meanwhile, two classrooms were damaged at Our Lady and St Patrick’s College at Kingsway Gardens in east Belfast on Saturday June 8.
The alarm was raised at 1.45am after flammable liquid was poured into an art room and corridor and then a petrol bomb was thrown in the attack on the college.
“An attack on a school is an attack on the community, on our children, our teachers and the entire education system,” Mr McGuinness said today.
“I am extremely concerned and saddened that any school should be damaged by wanton vandalism. These acts of mindless damage serve no purpose other than to divert money away from the classroom where it is most needed.
“All our children have the right to the best we can provide and that also means good, modern and safe schools. Acts of vandalism strip them of this right and are fundamentally anti-social. Everyone in a position of responsibility in our society needs to make it clear that these attacks are totally unacceptable.”
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
