Two men charged in connection with church fire

MORE than €300,000 damage was caused to St Laurence’s Church in Dungarvan in a New Year night blaze which resulted in part of the roof collapsing.

Two unemployed men appeared in custody before a special sitting of Dungarvan District Court yesterday charged with burglary and criminal damage at St Laurence’s Catholic Church, at Ballinroad, Co Waterford, on New Year’s night.

Stephen Foley, aged 47, of no fixed abode and Ring Cross, Dungarvan, and Kevin Nolan, aged 30, of 47 Childers Estate, Dungarvan, were both granted bail by Judge Terence Finn in their own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €6,000, one third of which would have to be lodged in cash in court.