Man jailed for St Simon's church fire

A man who started a huge fire which wrecked a historic church was jailed for five years and three months.

Ryan Haggerty, 26, sparked the inferno at St Simon's in Glasgow's Partick last July 28 with an adjoining house where an elderly nun lived also badly damaged.

Soot-covered Haggerty was clocked nearby and told a group of people: "Don't grass me in."

A judge heard how it would take "several millions" of pounds to possibly restore the nineteenth-century building, which is the third oldest Catholic church in the city.

Haggerty pled guilty to a charge of wilful fire-raising at the High Court in Glasgow.

It emerged he already had a previous conviction for the same crime.

Judge Lord Mulholland told him: "The church you set fire to was clearly an integral place of worship for people who needed it most.

"If it is able to be re-built it would cost millions.

"You put the life of a 79-year-old nun who was sleeping there at risk and it is fortunate you are not facing the crime of murder.

"You are no stranger to wilful fire raising but this conduct is a serious escalation.

"I consider that an extended sentence is appropriate."

Haggerty will be put under supervision for five years upon his release from prison.

The court heard Haggerty lived in homeless accommodation close to St Simon's at the time.

A string of 999 calls

A string of 999 calls were made around 2.30am that morning after it was spotted the popular church - built in 1858 - was alight.

Prosecutor Eilidh Robertson said: "Ryan Haggerty deliberately set fire to St Simon's.

"Due to the almost complete destruction of the building, little can be ascertained precisely how it started and where the seat of the fire was."

However, investigators believed it was sparked in the main chapel area with no evidence of any accelerant being used.

Miss Robertson said it took no more than 10 minutes from the blaze being ignited and it then engulfing the building.

"It was obvious the church was not salvageable."

She added: "The fire was well developed and visible from several miles away.

"It was obvious the church was not salvageable."

Sister Mary Ross, 79, lived in the presbytery next door and was awoken by the blaze.

She managed to escape and was helped by fire crews, but collapsed at one stage on seeing the destruction caused.

Residents of nearby flats and student accommodation also had to be evacuated.

People who stayed with Haggerty at a homeless unit close to the scene were on the street as well.

They clocked him coming from the direction of the church.

Miss Robertson: "He had what looked like soot on his hands and face.

"They were suspicious he had started the fire and challenged him.

"He denied it although later stated: "You all think I started that fire, don't you? Don't grass me in."

"Almost completely destroyed"

Haggerty was charged with the crime on August 17.

The court heard the fire has left St Simon's "almost completely destroyed" with only external walls in place.

Civil engineering work continues almost a year after the inferno.

Miss Robertson: "If it were to be restored to its former construction then the cost would be several millions."

The advocate depute said parish priest Canon Peter McBride described the impact of what happened as "terrible and heartbreaking".

The church also had close links with the local Polish community dating back to World War Two.

Sister Ross meantime stated it was an "act of good fortune" that she got out when she did that morning.

She added: "I think there would have been a very good chance I could have got smoke inhalation when the fire happened and I did not wake up...possibly worse."

Prosecutors said the fire was to the danger of the sister's life.

Euan Dow, defending, told the sentencing that Haggerty had a long-standing drug addiction at the time and has little recollection of the incident.

He added: "Mr Haggerty did not expect anyone to be in the vicinity to be put in danger and is mortified at the impact it had on Sister Ross who was uninjured but it was a highly distressing incident.

"He expresses his remorse and shame for his conduct and he shows no ill will or grudge towards the Catholic church and recognises the significant financial impact of his actions."

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