Three arrested for church desecration

July 1985

Gardai investigating the desecration of St. Aidan’s Church in Ferns in the early hours of Saturday morning week are now believed to know the identities of those responsible.

Three teenagers, two from Camolin and one from Enniscorthy, are helping investigating officers with their enquiries following arrest, and are likely to be summoned to appear before Enniscorthy District Court.

And as shock still continues to sweep the Diocese as a result of the outrage, it was reliably learned this week that Sacred Hosts removed from the tabernacle of the church during the desecration were distributed afterwards at a social function.

The youths are believed to have forced their way into the church by breaking open the main doors. It is thought they then opened the tabernacle with a key which was left on the altar. The Hosts were later taken from the tabernacle and scattered around, while some were taken away. Flowers and other religious objects were also scattered around.

Human excrement was also found in the vicinity of the building and investigating officers are trying to determine if the same suspects were responsible for this.

The crime was discovered by the church caretaker and priest’s housekeeper when she came to open the building for early Mass on Saturday morning week. She immediately contacted the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Canon Patrick Doyle P.P., who in turn contacted the Gardaí and His Lordship, Dr. Brendan Comiskey.

Since then, a huge investigation has been under way. Gardaí from Enniscorthy, Ferns and Gorey carried out a house-to-house investigation in Ferns in the days following the discovery of the crime and as many as 500 people were interviewed.

It was as a result of this investigation that Gardaí made a breakthrough last week which led to the arrest and questioning of the three youths, who are now helping with enquiries and who are expected to be charged in connection with the crime.