Priest chases thief through fields for collection money

A BRAVE priest left Mass to give chase through fields after a man who had stolen the collection money.

Fr Donal Berney, the local Catholic curate in Screen, just outside Wexford town, had been the victim of a previous assault and robberies, having had his home ransacked twice in four years.

That did not deter him, however, from taking after the man who stole parish collections 10 minutes into the recent 9.30am Mass.

On the morning, the sacristy was extremely hot and heavy because of the warm weather and he opened the back and side door to allow air to come in.

However, 10 minutes into the Mass, Fr Berney heard the cross door click open and shut.

“I knew the door couldn’t open and close itself so I went outside to see what was going on. I saw him sitting at the back by the toilets. He had transferred the money from the collection box to a bag,” said Fr Berney.

It was a weekday morning Mass in the rural church so the congregation was quite small.

The priest let a shout at the man who took off through the fields, with Fr Berney giving chase before losing sight of him.

Fr Berney said: “I saw him earlier before the Mass through the sacristy window. I didn’t recognise him but thought that he might just be using the toilet. He had a red car with him.”

Local residents kept an eye on the car following the chase. The would-be robber eventually returned to collect it, but was kept under observation by locals until the gardaí arrived and arrested him.

However, following a search of the car no money was found, with locals believing that he may have hid it away in the fields for collection once he regained control of the car.

In July 2002, Fr Berney received stitches to his mouth after a harrowing ordeal at the hands of armed raiders who followed him into his house. Thieves ransacked the house for a second time last month.