Three historic buildings damaged in Donegal village arson attacks

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In the border village of St Johnston in County Donegal, three historic buildings, a Catholic church, an Orange hall, and a Masonic hall have been damaged in a series of arson attacks.

Gardaí (Irish police) arrested a man in his 20s on Wednesday night during searches in the area as detectives work to determine the motive behind the attacks and whether they are linked.

The targeted buildings include St Baithin’s Catholic Church, located on Chapel Road, which was constructed in the 1850s.

Scorch damage was also inflicted on the Orange hall, situated on Main Street, a structure that dates back to the early 19th century. Additionally, the Masonic hall on Derry Road, which had been rebuilt after a fire in the 1970s, was damaged by fire again.

Police cordoned off all three buildings on Thursday morning as investigations continued. St Johnston, with a population of about 600 people, is located on Lough Foyle, roughly three miles from the border with Northern Ireland.

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