A man has been sentenced to three months imprisonment after stealing cash from collection boxes in a church.
Gheorghe Zoltan was arrested in the company of another man and found to be in possession of around €250 in cash and a set of bolt cutters.
CCTV footage showed the two men in St. Mary’s Church in Buncrana removing the collection boxes.
Zoltan, a Romanian national, appeared at Monday’s sitting of Letterkenny District Court, having been in Garda custody.
After breaking into the oratory on January 26 last, he and the other man were apprehended by Gardaí at an Applegreen Filling Station.
They could not account for the money found in their possession.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins, said the defendant had replied “I’m sorry about this” after being charged with the offence.
Defending solicitor, Patsy Gallagher said the other man involved in the theft appeared to have more influence.
He asked the court to consider his client’s full and frank admission and his deep remorse.
“He is very embarrassed and has been on remand on these charges since he was arrested,” noted Mr Gallagher.
Imposing sentence, Judge Emile Daly said the case involved the theft of offerings made by parishioners to the church.
Describing it as a “low form” of theft, she said the money was required to tend to the parish needs. “It shows a degree of disrespect,” she maintained.
Zoltan was sentenced to three months imprisonment.
