29-04-2025
Gardaí rule out foul play in Donegal church fire
A fire that destroyed a Catholic church in Co Donegal was not started deliberately, gardaí have confirmed.
A fire destroyed Teach Pobail Mhuire in Doirí Beaga in Gaoth Dobhair in the early hours of Easter Monday morning.
In an update this evening, a spokesperson for an Garda Síochána said: "Following initial assessments and a technical examination, foul play has been ruled out at this time."
Five units of the fire brigade and gardaí attended the scene after the fire was first reported at around 4am on Monday, 21 April.
The church was built in 1972 and is one of the biggest in the Raphoe diocese.
Following the fire, Parish Priest An t-Athair Brian Ó Fearraigh said there had been an outpouring of emotion from the community who viewed the church as their "spiritual home".
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty confirmed the building had been completely gutted in the fire.
Mr Doherty said he got married in the church and his father's anniversary mass was due to take place there on the day of the fire.
He said the church had a huge history and said the incident was heartbreaking.
"We will see a rebirth here," he said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland on the day of the fire.
A concert featuring Daniel O'Donnell, Clannad's Moya Brennan and Altan's Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh was held to raise funds to rebuild the church.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has already raised more than €118,000 to help fund the church's reconstruction.
