Spate of break-ins to local churches

Gardai are investigating a spate of burglaries where four local churches and a school were broken into on Monday night or the early hours of Tuesday morning. Churches in Ballivor, Kildalkey, Athboy and Rathmore were targeted as well as Rathmore National School some time between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. All five incidents are believed to have been carried out by the same perpretrator(s)

It is the third time in a year that St James' Church in Athboy has been hit and once again the stained glass window was broken to gain entry which Parish Priest Fr Pat O'Connor said will cost €8,000 to €10,000 to repair. "The window of St Joseph at the Lourdes Altar was broken, the same entry point as the last three occasions. When they entered the building, the alarm activated and they fled," said Fr O'Connor.

In St Lawrence Church, Rathmore, the culprits unsuccessfully tried to gain entry through the back door and then smashed in the front door. They broke through the door of the sacristry and ransacked it but nothing was taken. Repairs will have to be carried out to the locks and doors but they got nothing. "We do not keep money or valuables in the churches at any time," said Fr O'Connor.

Across the road at Rathmore National School, the office window was broken and the office ransacked but again Fr O'Connor said they don't keep any valuables or money in the school.

The work to repair the stained glass window in Athboy Church needs to be commissioned and takes about three to four months to complete.

"It is the cost, and the hassle and the waste of garda time and the upset to the faith community here who are outraged that their church has been vandalised once again for the third time in one year," said Fr O'Connor.

Kildalkey and Ballivor Churches were hit the same night. Some time between 12.45am and 1.20am on 19th December, the Church of St Columbanus was broken into in Ballivor. A stained glass window was broken to gain entry and it is estimated that the total damage was about €3,000.

St Dympna's Church in Kildalkey was broken into some time between 7pm on 18th and 9.30am on 19th December. A small front window was broken and access gained. A rear window was also broken. About €1,500 of damage was caused and around €320 was taken from a collection box.

Superintendent Sean Farrell of Kells Garda Station which in investigating the Athboy and Rathmore incidents, said they were aware of other crimes in the Cavan and Westmeath area. He said Gardai in Kells and Trim, Cavan and Westmeath are working closely together and are "following a line of enquiry".

Anyone who noticed suspicious around any of the four churches or Rathmore NS is asked to contact their local garda station.

Meanwhile, some time between 12 midday and 6pm, St Brigid's Church, Raharney was hit. The church was open at the time and the sacristry was forced open and ransacked. In Cavan, Gardai are investigating break-ins to three churches last Friday into Saturday. Bruskey NS, St Patrick's Church of Ireland, Ballintemple, and St Patrick’s Church, Kilnaleck and St Joseph’s Church, Drumkilly were all hit.