Diocesan News
CCTV considered for St Lugadius’ Church, Lifford
The Church of Ireland is considering installing CCTV cameras at St Lugadius’ Church in Lifford because of an increase in anti–social behaviour in the church grounds.
The Dean of Raphoe, the Very Reverend Arthur Barrett, says they have had a problem recently of young people congregating in and around the back of the church, with reports of a certain amount of anti–social behaviour taking place, including young people congregating and drinking.
Dean Barrett told the Nine ‘til Noon Show on Highland Radio that he had been in touch with gardaí to highlight his concerns and to discuss what could be done. “We had a very serious attack on the church in 2012,” he told the station, “when the church was broken into, vandalised on the inside and an attempt was made to set it on fire. Obviously, we want to avoid anything as serious as that ever happening again.”
The Dean said the church was now having to consider the possibility of installing CCTV in the grounds of St Lugadius’ Church. “It is quite accessible and we want it to be so for people who come to visit graves in the historic graveyard that is attached there, but obviously there is a problem in that access can be for all – including, sometimes, for those who use it for the wrong reasons.
“CCTV is certainly something that we have discussed,” Dean Barrett told the programme, “and I guess that is a route we are quite possibly going to have to look at. It’s unfortunate that we have to do that – cameras on the outside of historic buildings aren’t particularly beautiful, they don’t enhance the building in any way – but unfortunately it could be a route we are going to have to take.”
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org