School arson attack damage to cost £250k

April 1994

THE arson attack which destroyed two classrooms in Bethlehem School in Wicklow town last Monday and caused severe smoke damage to the rest of the building is likely to cost in the region of a quarter of a million pounds, school authorities believe.

Devastated school principal Sis- ter Rosaleen said on Wednesday while a full assessment was being waited, the final figure is likely to be ‘astronomical’.

Other sources close to the school believe it will be well in excess of £200,000.

The drama began around 2.25 a.m. on Monday when the fire at the Greenhill Road school was discovered by Garda Pat Costello and Conor Gilmartin, who immediately contacted the emergency services. Fire brigades form Wicklow and Rathdrum were on the scene quickly and managed to contain the blaze to two classrooms.

A total of 250 pupils were affected by the fire and major contingency plans were being made by the school authorities to find alternative accommodation before the summer holidays. There is no chance that the school will open before the new school year in September.