Police are treating a hearth that destroyed an Auckland rugby league membership’s clubrooms “as arson”.
The large hearth tore by way of the Marist Saints clubrooms at Murray Halberg Park in Mt Albert round 3.30am yesterday.
It triggered the constructing’s roof to break down, leaving it utterly destroyed. Members mentioned they had been devastated to see the injury.
Police have now confirmed they’re treating the blaze as being intentionally lit.
“Police can affirm we are actually investigating the fireplace at a Mount Albert handle on Thursday morning as an arson.
“Our inquiries are persevering with to find these accountable.”
Police are asking anybody with info which may assist their investigation to name 105.
Yesterday, Auckland Rugby League mentioned they had been “gutted” to listen to concerning the blaze.
“Marist Saints have an extended historical past, so that is devastating for our total rugby league group,” chief govt Rebecca Russell mentioned.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/CL4WG744UFCP3LUHFL7HGWPDQI.jpg)
“Our aroha goes out to the Marist Saints group as we help the membership by way of this robust time.”
The membership, based in 1919, is a serious a part of the Mt Albert group and has seen plenty of NRL gamers cross by way of. Sonny Invoice Williams, Jerome Ropati and former Kiwis captain Roy Asotasi all performed at Marist Saints.
“You do not wish to see it,” longtime member Hans Wulf advised 1News yesterday.
“It’s unhappy, it is actually unhappy. The recollections and the historical past of the membership are gone.”
“I’ve bought some images of my household, my son, now it’s gone, all the youngsters who had images, they’re gone. It’s extremely robust.”
A lot of the memorabilia from contained in the constructing was destroyed within the hearth, together with images, trophies and even metal drums – a crucifix someway managed to outlive, nonetheless.
