Police probe arson attacks

The school was badly damaged in the attack

Police in Northern Ireland are investigating a number of overnight arson attacks on buildings.

A number of homes had to be evacuated after an arson attack in Rathcoole, County Antrim on Friday morning.

Firefighters were called to a fire at Clonmore Green shortly after 0200 BST.

The fire, which was started in an empty flat, also damaged five other homes.

Those responsible have achieved nothing except to damage the education of the young children of this area

Fra McCann

In a separate incident, a fire also caused extensive damage to the roof and first floor of a derelict hotel in Antrim.

The blaze in the Deerpark Hotel in the town was discovered at about 0330 BST on Friday.

Police are treating the blaze as suspicious.

Detectives are also investigating the cause of a fire at a school in Belfast.

The fire at St Joseph's Primary school in the Grosvenor Road area was discovered shortly before 2000 BST on Friday.

A storeroom and roof were damaged in the blaze.

'Community suffers'

Lower Falls Sinn Fein councillor Fra McCann criticised what he said was an arson attack on the school.

He said: "Every summer our community suffers as a result of anti-social elements who seem hell bent in destroying anything positive in our areas.

"Last nights attack in which two classroom and a storeroom were damaged was another example of this despicable activity.

"Those responsible have achieved nothing except to damage the education of the young children of this area.

"This type of anti-social behaviour must stop and I would call on all of the community to work together to stamp out this scourge."