A parish priest in Co Mayo answered a sick call on Sunday and returned to find that the weekly church collection and money raised for the Asian tsunami appeal had been stolen.
Canon Joseph Cooney, parish priest of Ballyhaunis, estimated yesterday that at least €10,000 was taken from the safe in St Patrick's Church. He said that he had been in the church until about 2 p.m. counting the weekly collection as well as money raised for the tsunami fund.
"We had part of the money counted when I got a sick call and we left," the priest said. "When we returned shortly after 3 p.m. the safe was open and the money was gone. It is one hell of a downer. I am sickened."
Ballyhaunis parish has a population in excess of 2,000.
Gardaí in the town have appealed for information about anyone who might have been seen acting suspiciously in the vicinity of St Patrick's Church early on Sunday afternoon.