Three men brandishing an iron bar forced their way into a priest’s house at Rathowen, Co. Westmeath, a few days before Christmas, challenged an 80-year old housekeeper and made off with cash in church collection envelopes.
The incident followed soon on two other incidents in Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath and Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan. Though both occurred on the same evening. Gardaí feel the events are not connected.
In Castlepollard, three men tried to break into the parochial house at 5.30 pm but were disturbed by the priest’s housekeeper.
In Kilnaleck, later that evening, four masked men forced open the door of the priest’s house, threatened the priest but then left.
In the case of the Rathowen robbery, one of the perpetrators was described as being stout, in his 40s and with a moustache and the gang is believed to have been travelling in a dark Audi or Mercedes.
There have been a number of incidents in recent years involved break-ins at priests’ homes. In two incidents, clergy in their late 60s were beaten by intruders.
A little over a year ago, Fr Michael O'Leary (pictured above) suffered injuries to his head and hands and needed surgery when he was attacked by robbers in his house in Ballymacelligot, Co. Kerry.
Three years ago, Fr Seán Breen was beaten and robbed when he arrived home to his former parochial house at Eadestown, Co Kildare.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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