Thieves steal from parochial house and car outside church

Thieves steal from parochial house and car outside church

16 March 2016

PARISHIONERS in Castlewellan have been warned to keep an eye on their valuables after thieves targeted a church twice in one week.

A car parked outside St Malachy’s was broken into last Wednesday during a confirmation ceremony, two days after the parochial house was targeted at the same site.

More than £1,000 was stolen during the burglary at the parochial house, with a charity collection envelope and iPod Touch among the items taken. Thieves had forced their way through the front door last Monday afternoon while parish priest Fr Denis McKinlay was at a meeting. 

The priest, who lost some of his own savings during the incident, later said he was “saddened” and “a bit disappointed” by the burglary but glad no-one was hurt.

After Wednesday’s confirmation service it emerged a car window had been smashed and it is understood a bag was stolen.

Local councillor Stephen Burns said the fact a church had been targeted by the thieves made the crimes even harder to comprehend.

“Both incidents took place in the middle of the day,” he said. “It is most concerning and disappointing.

“The car theft was definitely an opportunistic crime and I would appeal to people to keep anything valuable in their cars out of sight.”

Councillor Burns added that reports of a car acting suspiciously in the area had been reported to police.

South Down SDLP MLA Seán Rogers also condemned the recent targeting of St Malachy’s Church as “totally disgraceful”.

“I was deeply annoyed to hear of the break in at the parochial house last week,” he said. “The local clergy do an outstanding job delivering for the community of Castlewellan and the outlying areas so this has to be condemned by all.  

“Then for cars to be broken into during confirmation in the town a mere 48 hours later is totally disgraceful. What makes this all the more sinister is that all of these incidents happened in broad daylight.”

Mr Rogers said he hoped that those responsible would be brought to justice.

“Castlewellan is a great town with outstanding community spirit which makes these crimes all the more out of keeping with the local ethos,” he said.

“I would urge anyone with any information to make contact with the PSNI. Those responsible must be apprehended.”

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.