POLICE have released an image of a suspicious male who was seen lingering at St Mary’s Catholic Church the day before the church was set ablaze.
The FACE identikit picture of the man was based on observations made by one of the church’s priests.
Detectives are awaiting an arson chemist’s report for more details on how the fires in the church’s sacristy and altar were started about 2.30am on Wednesday 1 April.
The fires closely followed suspicious blazes at two Catholic churches in Brighton and St Kilda East.
Detective Senior Constable Nicholas Hayes last week reaffirmed it was too early to substantiate claims of a historic vendetta against the church due to its links with convicted paedophile priest Kevin O’Donnell.
“It’s still being treated as a one-off at this stage.”
