Three young boys, aged 10 and 11, have been charged in connection with a fire that severely damaged a church in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The fire, which gutted the Church of the Holy Name in Greenisland, occurred last Sunday evening.
The boys, two aged 11 and one aged 10, have been charged with arson and are expected to appear in Belfast Youth Court on Monday, September 30. A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the charges would be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service, as is standard procedure in such cases. Authorities have clarified that the incident is not being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.
The fire broke out at approximately 9 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Name, located on Station Road in Greenisland. A total of nine fire-fighting appliances and 49 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze. Despite their efforts, the fire caused substantial damage, including the destruction of a section of the church’s roof. Photographs of the aftermath show the extent of the damage, particularly to the church hall.
In the wake of the devastating fire, the local community has rallied together in support of the church. Rev. Isy Hawthorne Steele’s niece set up an online fundraiser to help cover the costs of repair. The initial fundraising goal has been surpassed, with nearly £20,000 raised, tripling the original target.
Despite the damage to their building, the church’s congregation has continued to gather for worship. Services took place on Sunday morning at the Greenisland Methodist Church, located directly opposite the destroyed church. The service, streamed online, saw families in attendance as they came together in a spirit of resilience and faith.
As the church community begins the long process of rebuilding, their faith and determination remain evident, bolstered by the outpouring of help from supporters near and far.
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