Police are appealing for information following the incident in the Church Street area. It is believed that the burglary occurred sometime between 5pm and 9pm on Thursday evening last, 1st December. The raiders gained access to the building via the adjoining church before making off with two money boxes containing the large sum of petty cash. 

Assistant Priest at St. Michael’s, Fr Joe McVeigh told the Herald that it appears those who carried out this crime were familiar with the layout of the buildings. 

“They clearly knew what they were looking for and where to get it. Perhaps they had sussed the place out beforehand to have acted so quickly and without anyone seeing them. They must have known their way around and entered through the Church because the Parish Office door would have been locked at the time,” he said. 

Fr McVeigh says the incident is particularly distressing in the run-up to Christmas: “It is disappointing and sad that people feel compelled to raid a church and take money out of it for whatever reason. Those who did this must be very desperate and in need of some kind of help. Churches are sanctuaries and the money that was taken was not ours – it is given to us on trust,” he added.    

Anyone with any information about this incident is being asked to contact Enniskillen Police Station on the non-emergency number 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.