Thief felt 'bad, bad, bad' after robbing priest
A drug addict robbed a priest at knife point after he tied him to a chair in his church, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Anthony Carolan (aged 32) faces up to life imprisonment when he is sentenced next October. The court heard evidence that he has amassed 28 convictions and has been granted bail 15 times since he robbed the church two years ago.
Carolan of Crumlin Road, Crumlin pleaded guilty to the aggravated burglary of Donnybrook Church, Donnybrook on April 27, 2007.
Sergeant Donnacha Maguire told prosecuting counsel, Ronan Kennedy BL, that Father Declan Gallagher was locking up the church when a parishioner asked to talk to him. He finished locking up and he and the parishioner went to the sacristy and had a conversation.
Fr Gallagher heard a knocking on the door which he ignored at first but then went to check what it was. When he opened the sacristy door he was confronted by two men in balaclavas wielding knives. They had hidden in the church when it was being locked up.
They said they wanted money and demanded to know where the safe was. Fr Gallagher opened the safe for them and they emptied it of Stg£50 and $100 as well as a number of cheques.
They then tied the priest and the other man to chairs using cable ties. While apologising for the robbery, they searched the priest and stole his phone and €350 he had on his person.
They then fled. CCTV cameras in the church porch recorded the men removing their masks as they left.
Fr Gallagher was able to use a nearby blade to cut the cable ties and free himself and the parishioner. Gardaí were called and they identified both men on the CCTV footage.
Carolan was arrested several weeks later and made full admissions in interview. He said he felt "bad, bad, bad" and was doing a lot of cocaine at the time.
Sgt Maguire said he had 37 previous convictions which he started gathering at an early age. He said he had a partner and children and a chronic drug problem.
Sean Gillane BL, defending, called it a offence that "borders on the unspeakable" but asked Judge Patrica Ryan to consider his lack of education and the "deep shame" he felt.
He said he has been in and out of prison all his life and "graduated" from St Patrick’s Institution to Mountjoy. Carolan is currently in custody awaiting sentence on other matters while his accomplice faces sentencing on a later date.
Judge Ryan granted a defence application to adjourn sentencing to allow for an updated probation report and drug testing. She remanded Carolan in custody until October when she will finalise sentence.
