Demolition goes ahead as birds move out

Last week, the building was finally pulled down months after the work was scheduled to be carried out at a cost of £90,000.

It was due to be knocked down during the summer but a spokesperson for the parish said, “The scheduled demolition of the former St Joseph’s School at Crumlin had been temporarily delayed due to nesting birds within the property.

“This situation has now been resolved and the process of demolition is currently in progress.”

The decision to have it taken down was made by the Glenavy and Killead Parish Pastoral Council after the building, which had been empty since January, became a recent target for vandals.

It has had its windows smashed and rooms ransacked on a number of occasions.

The spokesperson for the parish explained, “Having carried out various surveys of this property, it has been decided by the Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Committee that this former school is now in such a state of disrepair that on grounds of health and safety it should be demolished and the site cleared. Fr Colm McBride, Parish Priest of Glenavy and Killead, takes this opportunity to recognise and thank all within the community for their continued assistance, gestures of support, goodwill and prayers as they work together in progressing the parish development plan.”

The current St Joseph’s Primary School building, which is also based closeby on the Glenavy Road site. opened its doors around 14 years ago.

It has a total of up 700 pupils currently attending it.