School arson attacks must stop

Newtownabbey Alliance Councillor Billy Webb has condemned an attempted arson attack on a school in North Belfast for the second time in a month. Arsonists attempted to set fire to St Mary Star of the Sea Primary School on the Shore Road in the early hours of Wednesday. Much of the Whitehouse School in Newtownabbey was destroyed in a fire earlier this month and former school La Salle Boys School was attacked.

Cllr Billy Webb said: “These attacks on schools are a despicable trend which has emerged in recent weeks. These arson attacks must stop. I have no idea why anyone would want to set fire to a school.

“Those behind these incidents may think that nobody gets hurt but they do not realise how devastating a fire can be and the massive impact it can have on a community. You only have to look at the attack at Whitehouse Primary School to see the impact such an attack can have. The fact that there have been a number of attacks in of this nature in the area in recent times shows that this is a worrying trend.

“The Education budget is already stretched, without having to deal with the consequences of these arson attacks.

“I would urge anybody with any information on any of these arson attacks to contact the police immediately.”

ENDS