Summerhill fire investigation is ‘ongoing’ gardaí say
GARDAÍ have said that their investigation into a fire at the old Summerhill College building in Sligo town on Friday night is “ongoing” and they wouldn’t confirm reports that it was a case of arson.
Asked yesterday, Wednesday, if they could confirm reports that the fire was started deliberately and that an accelerant was used, a garda spokesperson would only say that “investigations are ongoing”.
They said that scene was preserved for a technical examination.
“That technical examination has concluded. The results of this will determine the course of the investigation,” the spokesperson said.
Gardaí are appealing for information and are interested in speaking with anyone who was in the vicinity of the premises from 7.30pm on Friday night last, April 23.
Anyone with information, or video footage, including dash cam footage, is asked to make contact with Sligo Garda Station on 071 9157000.
The fire caused damage to the upper floors of the property, including the roof. Sligo Fire Service said that the fire was on the top floor and attic.
The fire service received the call out at 9.10pm and three units, from Sligo, Ballymote and Tubbercurry, were involved in bringing the blaze under control. A hydraulic platform to allow firefighters to get up to where the flames were was deployed in treating the fire.
The fire could be seen over a wide area and attracted a lot of attention, so much so that gardai issued an appeal on social media for people to stay away from the area until the situation was under control. They were also concerned that motorists were stopping to look while passing and that this might lead to traffic collisions.
The building, which has not been used for a number of years, dates back to 1892 and for many decades it catered for both boarders and day boys and operated essentially as a junior seminary for the diocese of Elphin. The boarders were drawn from counties Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Donegal, Cavan and wider afield. The sale of the building is currently the subject of High Court proceedings.
The original owner of the building was the Diocese of Elphin. It sold the property in 2016 to an company called Eastview based in Liverpool. It was subsequently sold again by new owners and it is that sale which is the subject of the High Court proceedings. The case is due again in court on June 28.
In a statement this week Summerhill College management acknowledged the work of the emergency services and speed with which the fire was brought under control.
They said: “Thankfully no one was hurt and there was mininal damage done. As neighbours and former owners of the building we are grateful to the fire service and an Garda Siochana.
“The old school has been a significant feature of the Sligo skyline for over a century. It holds many memories for past pupils, parents, teachers and staff.
“This nostalgia is still evident when we hold class reunions and alumni reminisce about their time there, as it was when the building was sold in 2016 and we moved into our current school across the road.”