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.