16/05/2003

Church damaged in overnight fire

A Catholic church in Co Down has been damaged by an overnight fire.

Police believe the blaze, which damaged a confessional box in Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Newcastle, was started deliberately.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus were forced to smash windows in the church in order to ventilate the building due to the build up of thick smoke.

The attack is the latest in a long line of attacks on the church.

Previously the parochial house been damaged by a petrol bomb and vandalised in graffiti.

(MB)

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