Catholic convent set ablaze in Northern Ireland
Firefighters at an old monastery building. Photo: Irish News
On June 28, 2026, in the city of Downpatrick, unknown persons set fire to the 150-year-old building of the former Catholic Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, located near the burial site of Ireland's heavenly patron, reports Life Site News.
More than 70 firefighters from several departments were deployed to extinguish the blaze. Rescue workers labored throughout the night to stop the flames and prevent them from spreading to the adjacent Saint Patrick's Church.
Representatives of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the cause of the incident as "deliberate arson." The fire almost completely destroyed the interior of the convent, but the church building was saved.
The local community expressed deep grief over what had happened, as the incident overshadowed the celebrations marking the ordination of cleric Thomas Hampton, which had taken place the day before.
The Sisters of Mercy Convent was built more than a century and a half ago and was considered an important architectural landmark of the region. Although the premises have not been in use recently, the building remains a symbol of the order's long years of service in Downpatrick. According to the authorities, no one was injured as a result of the arson.
As the UOJ reported, two historic Catholic churches burned down in France in one day.
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