Gardai investigate break-ins at Limerick churches on St Patrick's Day
GARDAI are investigating two separate burglaries in churches in County Limerick on St Patrick’s Day.
It is understood that a third church in the south Limerick area was also broken into on the same day, but no official report has been made to gardai.
At 6.30pm on Friday, March 17, the caretaker of the Holy Trinity Church in Dromin went to lock up the church for the night.
He then discovered that the sacristy door, just off the altar, had been smashed open.
Nothing had been taken from the sacristy however, repairs to the damaged door will cost €500.
Later that evening, the caretaker of the Church of SS Peter and Paul at Main Street, Bruff called gardai at 8.30pm.
She reported to gardai that a candelabra had been damaged.
The caretaker also reported that a moneybox had been broken open and the money stolen from inside.
Gardai in Bruff are investigating both incidents.
Local councillor PJ Carey said taking money from a church was a “low” thing to do.
“It is upsetting for everyone, for the priest and the sacristan. It is a low thing to do and anyone with any information should pass it on to gardai,” said the Sinn Fein councillor.
“It was a day of celebration and this has marred that. The candle money in the church would have only been a few coins. To go into a church robbing coins, it is one of the lowest things you can do,” he said.
Gardai are looking for any witnesses to any suspicious activity around either of these two churches on St Patrick’s Day to please contact them at Bruff garda station at 061-382940.