Systematic Church Thefts: Thief caught
In Ireland, a man was charged for a series of thefts including in several churches between 2020 and 2024. This example points to the growing problem of systematic church thefts and shows that the biggest harm for the religious communities is often not the thefts themselves, but the damage caused through break-ins. Another detrimental effect of these thefts is that parishes which cannot afford constant surveillence increasingly decide to keep their doors locked, which can be a great loss for believers who are thus prevented from frequenting local places of worship.
The 27-year-old man, Nathan Coughlan, was charged before the Ballyshannon District Court, in the North-West of Ireland, for a series of thefts including several churches between 2020 and 2024 These included, among other things:
- stealing donation envelopes, containing an unknown sum of money from Fiary church in Rossnowlagh on April 28, 2023,
- stealing 47 euros in candle offerings from St Asicus Church in Frenchpark, County Roscommon on August 16, 2022,
- stealing an estimated 150 euros in candle offerings from St Bridgid's Church, Kilbride, County Roscommon on June 26, 2022,
- stealing 30 euros in cash and causing 630 euros worth of criminal damage at Sacred Heart Church in Mountcharles on November 22, 2022,
- attempted to take money out of a donation box from the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Bundoran on November 9, 2021,
- stealing coins to a value of between 50 and 200 euros and causing criminal damage to the collection box on the candelabra of Drumalee Church in County Cavan on October 21, 2020.
Judge Ciaran Liddy remanded Coughlan on bail until 21 June 2024 to allow evidence to be given.
Sources: oceanfm.ie, donegallive.ie
Image: carrieradford.com