Church of the Holy Spirit, Muckross, Killarney All parishes in the Diocese of Kerry are being asked to review their security arrangements amid concerns about break-ins and burglaries in churches and other buildings.
Churches in Killarney have been targeted in broad daylight over the last number of months, including the rural Muckross Church near the Killarney National Park with money being taken from the collection box.
Killarney parish priest Fr Kieran O’Brien recently said rural churches are still open each morning so people can drop in for a quiet prayer, but they are vulnerable.
Parish committees have been asked to review security procedures “with a view to ensuring that reasonable precautions are in place to protect parish property”, a spokeswoman for the diocese said.
Parishes have been advised that valuable religious items and artifacts must be stored away in unmarked and secure cabinets, safes, or storage rooms when not in use.