By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
UPDATE 1.11pm
Police are still treating the St Mary’s church fire between 2am-3am this morning as suspicious.
Det Sen Const Nicholas Hayes, of Greater Dandenong CIU, said arson chemists and investigators were still to report on their findings at the scene.
He said it was too early in the investigation to say how and where the fire started, or confirming where a break-in may have occurred.
There was nothing yet to link the fire to two other church fires in greater Melbourne this week, he said.
“It’s going to be investigated to its fullest. There’s nothing to suggest the three are related at this stage.”
If you have information, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
EARLIER
ONE of Dandenong’s biggest and oldest churches has been damaged by a suspicious fire – the third Catholic church burnt this week.
The St Mary’s Catholic Church building erected in 1959 has been declared a crime scene after being damaged by two fires – one in the altar and one in the sacristy – about 2.30am this morning.
The church’s first mass on the site dates back to 1864.
A CFA spokeswoman said 45 firefighters battled for an hour to control the blazes.
The sacristy – an out-building storage area for vestments and silverware as well as a workshop and kitchen – was extensively damaged, burnt through the floor and its roof torn open by firemen in a bid to save the double-brick structure.
The sacristy is believed to also house a main switchboard.
“It appears there have been a number of Catholic church fires in the (greater Melbourne) area,” the spokeswoman said.
“It’s regarded as suspicious and has been handed over to police.”
One of the first to raise the alarm was the parish’s priest Father Declan O’Brien, who lives in detached quarters next to the church.
Fr O’Brien said he woke to the sound of smoke alarms.
“I came out and saw smoke and flames through the windows of the sacristy or storage room.
“It makes me feel sick. It’s not a good feeling.”
He felt he and the church were an “innocent victim” of the suspected arson.
“We’re not sure of the motivation of the person or persons behind this.”
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesman Shane Healy said: “We’re not going to speculate on whether it’s a random arsonist or not”.
He confirmed notorious pedophile priest Father Kevin O’Donnell was part of the parish in the past.
Mr Healy said two other Catholic churches – another St Mary’s parish church in Brighton and one in St Kilda – burnt in suspicious fires this week had also been home to pedophile priests “at some point”.
Stunned members of the 3000-strong congregation mingled in the church car park this morning ahead of an abandoned 9am Mass.
Several thousand were expected at Easter Mass this week.
Easter services have been moved to the nearby St Mary’s Primary School hall.
