Ram raiders in arson attack on Catholic school

Ram-raiders tried to burn down a Catholic school today by smashing through the front doors in a stolen car.

Thieves crashed through the main perimeter gate at St Patrick’s High School in Lisburn, Co Antrim in the latest attack on the building.

The car was then reversed at high speed towards the main foyer before becoming impaled on a metal hand rail just feet from laminated glass doors.

The car was set alight, causing some damage to the front of the school.

But Fr Sean Rogan, chairman of St Patrick’s board of governors, claimed it could have been much worse.

He said: “If they had penetrated the foyer we would have lost the school.”

The early morning attack came just a fortnight after arsonists destroyed two mobile classrooms.

Fr Rogan, the parish priest in Lisburn, claimed windows in the school were being broken continually while Catholic churches in the area have been repeatedly targeted.

He refused to speculate on the motive for the latest attack.

But he added: “Is it coincidental that it’s a Catholic school being attacked all the time?

“There is obviously a small group of people intent on causing trouble and it’s so upsetting for staff, parents and pupils.”

The car had been travelling so fast that the rail used for disabled people went right through into the passenger seat.

As clearing up began at the school, which is on its Hallowe’en break, Fr Rogan praised the response of firefighters and police called to the blaze.

He said: “They both arrived very promptly and I just want to express my appreciation to them.”