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Gardaí investigate break-in at
Greencastle church
25.02.19
GARDAÍ are investigating a break-in at St Finian’s
Church of Ireland in Greencastle, during which a
cross was stolen. The incident’s believed to have
happened sometime on Thursday night or Friday
morning when it appears an intruder or intruders
forced open the door into the vestry at the rear of
the building.
The break-in was discovered on Friday by two members
of the congregation. At Sunday morning's Service of
Morning Prayer in St Finian’s, the Bishop’s
Curate-in-Charge of the Grouped Parishes of Moville
Union, Donagh, Culdaff and Cloncha (Malin), Rev
Suzanne Cousins, led prayers for whoever was
responsible for the break-in.
“The congregation asked God’s blessing on them,” Rev
Cousins said afterwards, “and asked that the symbol
of the cross would be a reminder to them of God’s
deep and wonderful love, shown through Jesus’ coming
to us, his death for us, and his resurrection which
saves us.
“In the grand scheme of things,” she said, “this is
a small incident. No physical damage was done to any
person or to the church building or furniture, and
for this we are thankful. However, the incident is
unsettling and disappointing for the parishioners.” |
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St Finian's Church of Ireland in
Greencastle. |
St Finian’s, which
overlooks the fishing port of Greencastle in north
Inishowen, is a pre-disestablishment church and the
oldest of the five churches in the Moville group of
parishes.
“It would be best for everyone if the person or
persons responsible quietly came forward and
returned the cross,” Rev Cousins said. She thanked
gardai for their response to the incident and
confirmed that officers had taken materials away
from the church to help their investigation. |
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Rev Suzanne Cousins outside St
Finian's Church, which overlooks the fishing port of
Greencastle. |
On a positive note, Rev
Cousins said, another parishioner had offered to
donate a replacement cross if the original wasn’t
found or returned soon. “For this, we are very
grateful and quite moved,” she said.
“We’re also grateful to our bishop, Rt Rev Ken Good,
to the Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven. David Huss, and to
the Archdeacon of Derry, Ven. Robert Miller, who
have kindly conveyed to the parishioners their
prayerful support and offered to help in any way
they can. Thank you on behalf of the parish for all
the prayers and expressions of support.” |
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