Tragedy averted as arson destroys Jesuits’ building

GARDAÍ said last night that a major fire at the Jesuit Order’s headquarters was caused by an arsonist who was seen carrying cans of petrol towards the building before it went up in flames.

A priest who lived in the Jesuit buildings gutted by fire yesterday said hectic Holy Week commitments helped prevent a tragedy, but several priests lost their personal belongings and the order lost important administrative records.

On a normal Friday afternoon anything up to 12 people would have been working in the Irish Jesuit headquarters at Loyola House in Dublin 4.

However, Good Friday services meant only one man was in the building on Eglinton Road when the devastating fire broke out in an upstairs’ room at 1pm.

Fr Piaras Jackson said normally administrative staff, four full-time residents and the provincial of the order, Fr John Dardis, would have been in the house.

“Most of the people were away when then fire started, which you have to be thankful for. One man was inside but not where the fire was and he got out safely and that is the most important thing,” Fr Jackson said.

Five fire brigade units fought the blaze for hours. The house was gutted.

A garda spokesman said a man was spotted in the area carrying what appeared to be petrol cans: “We are treating this as an arson attack and following a definite line of inquiry, Anybody with information is asked to contact gardaí in Donnybrook at 01-6669200.”

Fortunately the Jesuits’ wealth of historical artifacts were not involved as they are kept at its library in Milltown.

Fr Jackson said they will now move to accommodation elsewhere within the order. “We are all shocked,” he said.

The Jesuits moved into Loyola House in 1956. It handled administration of the order’s schools and its communication’s office.

The fire caused traffic delays across Dublin 4.