Fire crews tackle fire at Waterside primary and nursery school. PIC BY ILONA DOHERTY
EDUCATION Minister Peter Weir has condemned the fire at Good Shepherd Primary School in Derry last night.
He said early indications suggest that the fire was deliberate, but this is yet to be confirmed following a full investigation by police and the fire and rescue service.
Over 30 fire fighters from Derry and Limavady tackled the blaze at the premises in the Waterside around 8 pm last night.
Speaking today the Minister said: “Any attack to a school property is damaging for the young people and indeed the staff of that school.
“There are only a few short weeks left of the summer break and I am sure families are already preparing for the new school term.
“Staff in my Department, the Education Authority and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) will work together to ensure that the new school term will start with the minimum of disruption.”
Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Colm McGuigan said up to five appliances from Derry and Limavady dealt with the incident.
“We’re very lucky that this fire was discovered in the early stages, had this damage not been discovered very early, a lot of damage would have been done to the school,” he said.
Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson visited the scene.
“It’s very worrying that this fire has taken place just a few weeks before the new school term starts,” he said.
“I would appeal to anyone in the community who has any information on how this fire started to bring it forward to the investigations team.”
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