15 hours ago
Almost €10k raised for Dublin Jiu Jitsu club destroyed by ‘shocking' arson attack
The club are fighting on despite losing their gym
Almost €10k has been raised for a Dublin Jiu-Jitsu club destroyed in an arson attack. Republic of Jiu-Jitsu on Townsend Street was burned down in the early hours of Tuesday morning in 'a shocking act of arson.'
Now, the owners are fighting back as they hope to rebuild the club stronger than ever.
'Late on Monday night, our jiu-jitsu academy — Republic of Jiu Jitsu — was completely destroyed in a shocking act of arson,' Coach Abnel shared on the GoFundMe page.
'Thankfully, the fire happened outside of business hours and no one was injured, but the damage to our gym was total.
'The mats, the gear, the kids' belts and medals, all completely destroyed.
'Even the walls, changing rooms and showers were completely wrecked,' he continued.
The coach said that they are 'heartbroken, but not beaten.'
'Our club has always been more than just a place to train. It's a second home for kids after school, a place of confidence and discipline for teens, and a supportive environment for adults of all ages.
'This gym helped people through depression, addiction, bullying, burnout — and built a community of friendship, respect, and resilience. That can't be burned down,' he added.
The coach said that despite the setback, they're currently training at a temporary location several times a week.
We're already back on the mats… but starting from scratch is hard.
'We've lost tens of thousands of euros worth of mats, equipment, and fittings.'
The club have asked for the public's help to restore the gym – not just as a physical space, but as the community hub it is for so many.
'Every donation, share, and message of support is helping us to rebuild, recover, and return stronger than ever.'
So far, 127 donors have raised €9,521 of a €60K target.
Images of the blaze shared by Dublin Fire Brigade show plumes of smoke coming from the building.
Image: Dublin Fire Brigade
News in 90 Seconds - June 19th
'Seven fire engines were called to a building fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning,' DFB said on social media.
'Firefighters from Tara Street fire station were first on scene and found the ground floor well alight.
'Three breathing apparatus teams located and extinguished the fire.'
