Used condoms discarded and fires lit at church during summer of vandalism

A priest has hit out at “a lack of respect for a sacred space” after a summer of vandalism on the grounds of a south Donegal church.

Fr Jeremiah Munyoki, outgoing curate at the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea in Bundoran, says the church has seen three months of vandalism carried out by groups of youths who have been gathering on the grounds in the evenings, resulting in graffiti being sprayed on stonework and used condoms left in public toilets.

The toilets on the grounds of the church, which have served the general public, have now been closed outside of Mass times after being damaged over the summer.

Incidents on the church grounds over the last three months include fires being lit, railings damaged, and rubbish - including empty vapes and cigarette butts - being discarded.

“The graffiti which is there is obscene, it is outrightly explicit, and in terms of drawings and in terms of words, and just a lack of respect for a sacred space, basically that's it,” Fr Munyoki told Donegal Live.

Fr Munyoki, who is leaving the Magh Ene parish for a posting in Co Monaghan, said the church's toilets had been open to the public for daily use.

“The toilets have been misused and we have found pipes broken, sinks, washers and basins also broken, water left running and used and unused condoms in the church toilets. And that has forced us to close the toilets immediately after Mass.

“We lock them up now because when we left them open, they happened to be places of activities that are not really and truly expected to take place in a church compound, in a sacred place; and we look at that and then somebody just wonders - that's the least place you expect to find such, it's like the paragon of wickedness.

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“I'm just surprised at what society has become, where are we headed to, that even the sacred is no longer sacred and that there is devaluation of values, really and truly.

“And even some of the basic things, you would say the basic minimums of decorum and manners are devoid with youngsters.”

Fr Munyoki said fires have been lit at the church grounds as recently as Sunday night and footage of incidents have been passed to gardaí.

In an appeal over the incidents, gardaí say they are aware that youths have frequently been gathering at the church grounds in the late evening and night-times, and have appealed for anyone who may have relevant information in relation to the acts of criminal damage to contact Ballyshannon Garda station on 071-9858530.

“We urge the public to contact gardaí immediately should they ever observe a gang of youths in or around the church grounds,” a Garda spokesperson said.

“Any type of suspicious activity, people or vehicles in or around a church or any place of worship should always be reported to gardaí without hesitation.”