Chapel cash thief is jailed for six months by judge

Chapel cash thief is jailed for six months by judge

25 September 2013

A MAN who stole money from three rural churches in the district has been jailed for six months.

Martin Edward Jude MacKeever was in Downpatrick Court on Monday for sentencing having been found guilty earlier this year of a five day crime spree.

Forty nine year-old MacKeever stole money from collection boxes in St. Mary’s Church, Cabragh, on November 4 and the next day he moved on to steal from St. Mary’s Church in Dunsford. Then on November 9 he carried out his final theft from St. Nicholas’ Church, in Ardglass.

MacKeever, with addresses in Kennedy Square, Downpatrick, and Coterhill, Cheshire, was caught on CCTV stealing from the Dunsford church. He admitted this offence and denied the other two thefts but was convicted after a trial earlier this year.

A defence barrister said the case was “particularly nasty” and would raise “emotions in anybody.”

“It is a particularly nasty set of circumstances. Basically it is very disturbing to very many people,” he said.

The barrister told the court his client had last been in trouble for a theft offence 22 years ago and said: “The probation report says he is not suitable for probation and the medical report says he is not suitable for community service.

“It just seems bizarre for a man not to have been in trouble for 20 years to be involved in these bizarre circumstances,” he said.

He added that MacKeever’s wife, who lives in Merseyside “did not enjoy good health” while his 14 year-old son is in hospital.

District Judge Nigel Broderick told MacKeever: “These offences were very mean; to go into churches in a rural area and steal is very dishonest.”

MacKeever was sentenced to six months prison, concurrent on each charge, but released on £500 bail pending appeal.

In a further twist he was returned to the courtroom shortly after sentencing, charged with being in contempt of court.

A court officer had seen MacKeever using a tape recorder in the courtroom and when the recording was played Judge Broderick told him he was guilty of “prima facie contempt.”

MacKeever will be back in Downpatrick Court on October 3 to appeal the sentencing for theft and then he will return again on October 17 to face the contempt of court charge.