Derry man accused of causing £100,000 worth of damage to local church is granted bail

A Derry man has been accused of causing £100,000 worth of damage to a local church after going on a ‘rampage’ during which a bible was smeared with ‘faecal matter’.

James Kennedy, 22, of Glenside Park, is charged with entering Christ Church, Infirmary Road, as a trespasser on September 12 where he is alleged to have stolen a priceless crystal decanter, communion wine, organ surplus, and a readers’ robe.

He is also alleged to have damaged a stain glass window, organ, and bible during the incident.

Another individual questioned by police about the incident has been released on bail.

In total, damage caused was said to be in the region of £75,000-£100,000.

Linking the defendant to the crime, the police officer said that two males were captured on Brooke Park CCTV around 7.40am ‘swigging from cans’ of beer.

They were then observed climbing over a fence into the grounds of Christ Church around 8am and didn’t resurface until 10.24am when they exited through the main gate on to Infirmary Road.

The two individuals disappeared for some time before returning around 11.15am and are once again spotted at the rear of the Church around 1pm, and one of the men had a backpack on throughout.

Following widespread media reports about the incident Foyle PSNI launched Operation Exposure on its Facebook page by posting photos of the two individuals it believed to be responsible.

He was arrested on Wednesday, October 4, after voluntarily attending and during police interview confirmed he was the male captured on CCTV footage at 7.40am in Brooke Park.

Defence solicitor Paddy McGurk said his client has ‘fully cooperated’, has denied the offences and expressed his ‘revulsion at the acts’

The defendant, who has no criminal record, has stated that he did not enter the church at any stage.

He accepted that there was evidence his client was in the church grounds but said that Kennedy denies being inside the church and there should be a presumption of innocence.

District judge Barney McElholm said there was ‘certainly evidence to place him around the scene but not necessarily in the church…but it’s all very coincidental’.

Kennedy was granted his own bail of £500 with a surety of £750 to reside at his home address.

Strict bail conditions prohibit the defendant from consuming alcohol or drugs, he must not go within 200m of Christ Church or Brooke Park, and must have no contact with his co-accused or witnesses in the case including the Archdeacon.

The 22-year-old will appear in court again on November 2.