Three young boys, two aged 11 and one aged 10, have been charged with arson after a fire caused significant damage to a church in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Church of the Holy Name, in Greenisland, was set ablaze on Sunday, 1 September. The blaze also spread to the parish hall at the Church of Ireland building on Station Road.
The incident occurred just days after the church celebrated its 70th anniversary. The fire, which police are treating as arson, caused significant damage to both buildings. At the height of the blaze, 49 firefighters and nine fire appliances were involved in the operation to bring it under control. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said on Monday that they believed bins had been set alight before the flames spread to the nearby building. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Fire Investigation and Charges
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) investigated the incident and charged the three boys with arson. They are due to appear at Belfast Youth Court on Monday, 30 September. The PSNI has stated that they are not treating this as a racially motivated crime.
Community Response and Support
The local community has been shaken by the incident. Rev Dr Izzy Hawthorne-Steele, the church’s minister, expressed her devastation. "I’m not angry, I’m just thankful that we are a people that can trust on God to bring us through this," she said. "I call upon those who started [the fire] to come and talk to us. I feel for them."
The Aftermath and Rebuilding
An online fundraiser has been set up to help pay for rebuilding the church. The fundraising efforts have so far raised more than £19,000. The incident has highlighted the resilience of the community and the importance of supporting those affected by such tragedies. The fire at the Church of the Holy Name serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of sacred spaces and the need to address the root causes of such incidents.
A Community Reunited
The fire at the Church of the Holy Name has brought the community together in a spirit of unity and compassion. The community is united in its determination to rebuild and restore the church. The fire has also sparked a broader conversation about the importance of protecting places of worship and addressing the underlying social issues that contribute to such incidents.
