258 students to be fingerprinted in blaze probe

MORE THAN 250 secondary students are to be fingerprinted by gardaí investigating a suspicious fire at a school on New Year’s Day.

Classes at Dingle CBS have been severely disrupted following the blaze, which caused extensive damage.

First, second and fourth-year students have not attended school since the fire, but it is hoped to have accommodation for them next week.

Sergeant Mossie O’Donnell of Dingle Garda Station yesterday confirmed the fingerprinting, saying it was a necessary part of the investigation. He said he was pleased with the progress of the investigation but stopped short of describing the fire as arson. “We know there was a break-in at the school and that a fire started somehow, but accelerants were not used. We’re treating the fire as suspicious,” Sgt O’Donnell said.

A bilingual letter has been sent to parents explaining the need for fingerprinting and outlining the seriousness of the incident.

School principal Pádraig Feirtéir said approaches had been made to building owners and they hoped to have classes in alternative accommodation on a phased basis from next week.

Six classrooms and an office area in the 132-year-old building were extensively damaged in the fire, which was discovered at 8.15am, on January 1. Gardaí believe it may have been smouldering for hours before the flames were noticed. Three fire brigade units were called and a forensic examination carried out.

Parents are co-operating with the investigation and fingerprints will be taken from the 258 students in the presence of a teacher, gardaí said.