Priest Suggested Using CCTV Cameras after Vandalism in Church of Abbeyleix
On the morning of January 12th, between 9am and 9:30am, a new ornate candelabrum was smashed to pieces and then discarded in the nearby cemetery of the Church of the Most Holy Rosary in Abbeyleix, County Laois. A male suspect was charged and faced an appearance before the District Court. The parish priest called for improvement of security systems and suggested the installation of CCTV cameras.
The candelabrum, on which parishioners frequently lighted candles during their personal prayers, was taken from an altar at the back of the church. Its remains were found in the adjacent cemetery, but the candle-holder, worth approximately 1000 euros, had been destroyed beyond repair.
Parish priest, Fr Paddy Byrne, stated his evaluation of the act: “I don’t believe there was any big motivation against the church, I think it was mindless vandalism, which churches are particularly vulnerable to because we choose to keep our doors open." However, he emphasized that the attack concerned a sacred building: “People come in to light a candle on the candelabra for their own personal intentions and that is what caused a lot of pain to people, that sense of a sacred space being interrupted. Interfering with a sacred space is something that is unpalatable to the vast majority of decent people. The fact this happened should in no way detract from the fantastic community there is in Abbeyleix.”
Fr Paddy Byrne did not advocate for the closure of churches outside of church services. Religious buildings like churches and mosques “shouldn’t have to shut up shop over fear of vandalism”.
“We want people to be able to come here at any time and be able to light a candle and retreat to a sacred space. These are sacrosanct spaces that must be respected." St Brigid’s Church in Milltown, belonging to the same Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, had been ransacked on the same week-end. The priest concluded that churches needed to improve their security systems to protect their sacred spaces and vessels.
Sources: Laois Nationalist, Independent
Photo by Rishabh Varshney on Unsplash