Upset at church break-in

A parish priest has urged those who broke-in to St Anne’s Church in Bailieborough in the early hours of Sunday morning, July 16, to hand themselves in to gardaí.

The culprits smashed a side window to gain entry and caused damage to the front door, but ultimately left empty handed. Speaking on the break-in Father Ultan McGoohan explained the bottom portion of a stain glassed window was broken and also “an attempt” was made to rob a candelabra. The offenders also tried to force the front door of the church.

“That attempt failed,” he observed. Fr McGoohan said he felt “disappointed” by the incident.

“It’s upsetting for people coming to Mass on Sunday morning,” he said.

“It caused some disruption,” he said, adding that people were “generally saddened” by the break-in.

A person out for an early Sunday morning walk first alerted Fr McGoohan to the damage, and he contacted gardaí. In speculation as to why somebody would break into the church, the priest surmised it was done by “people looking for money for whatever reason”.

He said the church is “very fortunate” in the respect that it is “covered extensively” by CCTV cameras.

“If those responsible were to contact the Gardaí, that would be much appreciated,” he said. “It’s the nuisance of having to repair everything and tidy everything up,” he said of the incident.

“It’s extra work that one could do without,” he concluded. An online appeal for witnesses from Bailieborough Gardaí said: ‘Did you pass this way, the Virginia Road, between 12am and 3pm and notice any suspicious activity. If you can help in any way please contact Bailieboro Gardai on 042 9694570.’