BREAKING NEWS: A Letterkenny school has been closed after what appears to have been an arson attack.
The well-known Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal girls primary school was forced to turn away pupils this morning after the blaze.
It appears that a small fire using plastic material was started outside a door into the building.
Windows at the school, which is opposite the Old Mart site, were open this morning to allow smoke to escape from the building.
Principal Irene Simmons was outside the school this morning chatting with teachers and local priest Fr.Eamon Kelly.
Two fire brigades and two Garda cars were in the grounds of the school.
Parents arriving at the school were turned away and were told they will be informed if the school will open again tomorrow.
One parent told Donegaldaily.com “We just arrived as normal. Someone had mentioned something about the school being closed but we thought it was juts the kids messing.
“When we arrived one of the teachers told us there had been an incident and that the school would not be opening today.
“She said we would receive a phonecall or a text to let us know if the school will be open tomorrow.”
The school is currently undergoing a major renovation.
One of the fire brigades was at the rear of the building while another unit stayed at the front of the building.
Fr Kelly said he thinks the fire may have been started deliberately.
“Thank God it doesn’t seem to be too bad,” he said.
Donegaldaily.com also understands there was an attempted break-in at the nearby Gaelscoil Adhamnhain earlier this week.