Thieves have stolen several thousand euro collected in aid of the tsunami disaster appeal from a church in Co Mayo.
Robbers broke in to St Patrick's Church in Ballyhaunis between 2 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon. They forced the sacristy door, damaging a lock before forcing open the safe and making off with around €10,000.
Father Joseph Cooney, Parish Priest said it was sickening that anyone could steal donations from a church.
"All I can say is that I think it was the most despicable thing to do when people had been extremely generous in giving money, hard-earned money," he said.
"That anyone would do such a disgraceful thing to steal that money that would deprive thousands of much needed relief. I would appeal to them to reconsider what they have done."
More than €5,000 had been counted by Fr Cooney before he left the church to visit a sick parishioner. It is understood a total of €10,000 may have been taken in the raid.
The money was donated as part of a nationwide collection in churches to raise cash for the thousands affected by the St Stephen's Day tsunamis across the Indian Ocean.