Press Release – Monday 18 November 2013 – Immediate

Attn: Newsdesks, Photodesks and Religious Affairs Correspondents

Gardaí and PSNI joint meeting with priests of Armagh concerning their personal safety and recent burglaries

On foot of a number of recent break-ins of priests’ houses, other parish properties in the Archdiocese of Armagh and elsewhere, representatives of crime prevention offices of both An Garda Siochana and the Police Service of Northern Ireland have recently met with a large gathering of priests and bishops from the Archdiocese of Armagh.  The purpose of this briefing was to discuss the personal safety of priests and to inform them of best practice concerning the security of money which has been received from the local parish collections at Mass.

Cardinal Brady said, “At this time I am particularly conscious that many elderly people in our community, as well as our priests, feel vulnerable about their personal safety.  I ask parishioners to remain vigilant concerning suspicious activity in and around parish properties.  Any concerns should be reported to the police immediately.”

 

ENDS

  • Cardinal Seán Brady is Archbishop of Armagh

For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444