Thieves robbed €5k from church on Christmas Day

A parish priest said he was shocked after thieves broke into a church sacristy on Christmas Day and scattered sacred vessels on the ground before making off with €5,000.

The majority of the money, it is understood, was made up of Christmas dues.

“It is shocking, absolutely. Nothing is sacred any more,” said Fr Joseph Shire, parish priest of Ballyagran in Co Limerick.