On November 27, CBC News reported that the historic church of St. Paul’s in Bas-Caraquet, New Brunswick had been completely burned down, unsalvageable.
The person responsible for the arson, a 14-year-old boy, who after being charged with the crime, was accused of setting fire to another building later that year in November. The other building was located in the Acadian Peninsula.
The boy was arrested only a few days later, on June 28. His information and identity cannot be released due to the publication ban because of his being a minor during these incidences.
The boy, who would go on trial after being ruled fit to stand trial after psychiatric evaluation then set fire to the building in Acadian Peninsula. Only the name of that building cannot be released either since it is in the same area where the boy lives which makes it fall under the publication ban.
The boy is set to return to court on December 21.
St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church was built in 1904, and was saved from being closed down due to major fund raising to keep it open. Its’ arson was a complete blow to the community and they suffer the loss of their church.