News

Parochial house targeted by south Armagh burglars

A parochial house has been burgled in south Armagh.

The property at Meigh, near Newry, was targeted by thieves on Tuesday afternoon.

It is understood a laptop and computer accessories were taken during the robbery at Chapel Road.

Detective Sergeant Trish Bardon said: “We are keen to hear from witnesses or anyone who noticed any suspicious activity. We would especially like to speak to anyone who noticed a blue car, possibly a Toyota Corolla, in the Meigh area yesterday.”

The robbery is not the first time priests in the area have been targeted.

In 2013 priests in the Armagh Archdiocese were told to review their security after a spate of aggravated burglaries.

In November that year a priest based in Keady was left badly shaken after he was targeted by thieves.

A month earlier another cleric had a tooth knocked out by three teenagers armed with a hammer who attacked him at his isolated parochial house in Jonesboro.

The gang got away with cash after locking the priest in a bathroom.

The same month a priest escaped from the parochial house in Crossmaglen when two men conned their way into the property and made off with cash.