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Boys aged 10 and 11 charged over church arson

NIFRS An aerial image of the fire damage caused to the Church of the Holy Name and its adjacent hall last weekend. The image shows that large section of the roof had collapsed and charred embers fill the remaining structure.NIFRS
Firefighters released an aerial image showing the damage to the church buildings

Three boys, two aged 11 and a 10-year-old, have been charged with arson after a large fire severely damaged a church in County Antrim.

The Church of the Holy Name, in Greenisland, was set on fire on Sunday, 1 September.

The blaze also spread to the parish hall at the Church of Ireland building on Station Road.

The police said a significant amount of damage was caused to both buildings.

NIFRS A night time photo showing the roof of the parish centre in flames, as a person standing taking a photo of the very well-developed fireNIFRS
It is believed the fire started when bins were deliberately set alight near the church

At the height of the blaze, 49 firefighters and nine fire appliances were involved in the operation to bring it under control.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said on Monday that they thought bins had been set alight before the flames spread to the nearby building.

No one was injured by the blaze.

The church had been celebrating its 70th anniversary on the weekend of the attack.

The three boys are due to appear at Belfast Youth Court on Monday 30 September.

PACEMAKER Firefighters fighting a blaze at the church in Greenisland last weekend. One firefighter is trying to extinguish the fire with a hose. The windows are red with the fire and smoke is in the air.PACEMAKER
Firefighters were called to the scene at 20.45 BST on Sunday 1 September