Monday, March 23, 2009

Robberies forcing priests to improve security

There has been a significant increase in the number of clergy seeking improved security at parish homes and churches following a spate of break-ins and robberies recently.

One parish priest, Fr Paddy Byrne, of Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, has told of his distress when his parish was ransacked by intruders.

He said: "My home was broken into on two occasions, once during the day, and once at night while I was out on a parish call. On the first occasion, the damage was minimal, they were obviously looking for cash, but the resultant feeling from the intrusion was devastating. To know that some intruder had been freely roaming around my home affected me greatly.

"The second occasion was more serious. They caused very disruptive damage looking for money, and eventually took a significant amount of parish funds. They wrecked my computer, and ransacked my study. I shudder to think what may have happened if I had returned and disrupted them during their robbery."

A security company, Netwatch, now monitors the Bagenalstown parish. If anyone enters the front or back gardens, intervention specialists based in Carlow can give an audio warning to alert them that they are being monitored. Fr Byrne said the system gave him peace of mind.

Several religious orders are now understood to be protecting their headquarters and retirement homes.

Brother Tim, of The De la Salle College, Waterford, says: "Even the occasional act of vandalism can be very inconvenient. The school adjoins a public park and late-night activity in the park has sometimes meant that persons entered our site, sometimes with malicious intent.''

Netwatch CEO David Walsh says: "Theft from churches is becoming a national problem as places of worship are no longer off limits. We've had intruders attempting to pinch a tabernacle, chalice and some religious icons."
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(Source: II)