Garda probe as donations meant for homeless people stolen from Limerick church

GARDAI have launched an investigation after donations meant for homeless people at Christmas were stolen from city centre church in Limerick city centre.

In an incident described as “sad” and “disappointing,” the theft took place at St Joseph’s Parish Church in O’Connell Avenue.
The church community had teamed up with homelessness charity Novas to encourage people to buy and donate items like sleeping bags, toiletries, towels, hats, scarves and gloves.

Families have been dropping in items, with Novas set to distribute the items to the homeless this week.

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But CCTV footage seen by Limerick Live reveals two women entering the church and taking two bags of gifts left in the donation box away with them.

It’s understood the pair removed a bin from outside the church, emptied the contents of the bin-bag and used it to also steal festive decorations from the church.

“It’s just disappointing, because it’s very obvious who the gifts are for, and the people who came in. I don’t know if they needed them. They just took them because they could,” said Canon Derek Leonard, the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s.

Officers at Henry Street garda station were handed the footage from the incident, which took place on Friday, December 5, at approximately 4:30pm.

A garda spokesperson has confirmed an investigation is under way.

In the wake of this, volunteers have stepped up patrols of the church, and become more vigilant.

Donations into the basket are now removed much more quickly and put under lock and key.

Canon Leonard says despite the theft, they will not be deterred.

“It’s not going to stop us campaigning and looking to donate gifts to the homeless. We have a lot of people coming in and out of the church, and it’s quite safe. But if they are here, they should keep an eye out, and if there is anything happening that should not be happening, they should let us know,” he said.

As news of the theft has spread through the community, people have actually redoubled their efforts to donate to the cause, something praised by Canon Leonard.

He noted families and children in particular dropping in donations.

He said he decided to start the homeless appeal, because of the number of people waiting outside the church seeking money, especially at Mass time.

“I’m conscious we do not know where this money goes. So I wanted to do something constructive for homeless people. I was in touch with Novas and asked for a list of items they need not just at Christmas, but during the year, and could we contribute to it,” he told Limerick Live.