A well-liked priest was left “extremely shaken” after he was robbed at gunpoint and ordered to empty a church safe, police have said.
Three men, one believed to have been holding a handgun, made off with charity donations for a children’s orphanage in the robbery at about 6.25pm on Tuesday.
The assailants rang the doorbell of Father Peter Hannah’s residence in St Helens, Merseyside, and demanded money before marching him to Vincent de Paul church.
There they ordered him to empty the church safe, before making off on foot. The priest was not assaulted or injured during the incident, Merseyside police said.
Local residents and churchgoers expressed disgust at the robbery and said it was the second time the priest had been held by armed men. Volunteers at the church said Father Hannah had been robbed at knifepoint several years ago.
Angela Thompson, a parishioner at the church, said the crime would be “difficult to forgive”.
“I am absolutely disgusted. The money was being donated to an orphanage,” she said. “It is the lowest of the low to go and take money from a priest like that. He is a lovely man and you could go to him for absolutely anything.”
Ian Bradley, a local resident, said he was in disbelief and would donate money to replace part of the stolen kitty.
“I heard about the robbery and that the money was for an orphanage. I was disgusted and surprised someone would rob and target a church. I can’t imagine what’s going on in people’s minds who would do such a thing.”
A spokesman for the archdiocese of Liverpool said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Father Peter Hannah, who was not injured but left shaken by the events of yesterday evening.
“Such events are an attack on the whole of the worshipping community who in these last weeks have given of their time to raise money for an orphanage in Zimbabwe. The repercussions of this act will be felt far beyond the town of St Helens.”
Officers carried out an extensive search of the area but were unable to trace the three men. CCTV is being examined and house-to-house inquiries are being conducted in an attempt to identify and catch the offenders.
The three were described as white and aged between 17 and 21. All three had their faces covered during the incident.
DS Chris Burrows, of St Helens CID, said: “I am sure the people of St Helens will be shocked and saddened to discover the church has been targeted in this way.
“It is a focal point for many in our community, particularly at this time of year, and it is heartbreaking to think the offenders have taken money which we understand was a charitable collection intended for a children’s orphanage.
“While he was thankfully not injured, this would have been a very frightening incident for the priest. I would like to reassure people who live locally that we are doing everything we can to trace the offenders.”
Anyone with information about the robbery should contact detectives at St Helens CID on 0151 777 6811 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
