Gardaí keep open mind on fire in Rathdrum school

May 1993

GARDAÍ are keeping an open mind on the cause of a fire which damaged an upstairs room at a vacant building formerly used as the vocational school at Rathdrum.

The local fire brigade was alerted after smoke was spotted coming from the window of a room by a passer-by. Damage was limited but the incident could have resulted in vary serious damage to the building. Although the blaze is believed to have been an act of vandalism, gardaí are keeping an open mind.

‘Meanwhile the incident has prompted a call from members of Wicklow County Council for the VEC to decide on the best way to dispose of the school building to prevent a recurrence of the vandalism.

Cllr Jimmy O’Shaughnessy drew attention to the condition of the prefabs valued at £30,000 beside the old building, which he said had deteriorated since the school was vacated 12 months ago.

‘It is a terrible shame to see such a beautiful old house on over nine acres of land valued at over £70,000 lying idle and open to vandalism.’