Churches damaged in Co Armagh

Three Catholic churches in south Armagh have been broken into over the weekend.

Money was taken from the vestry of St Mary's Chapel in Mullaghbane, while the Lislea Chapel and the Good Shepherd Church in Bessbrook were also broken into and minor damage caused.

Anyone with information relating to the incident should contact police.

Also this weekend damage estimated at thousands of euro has been caused to a Church of Ireland church in the Republic of Ireland.

Vandals smashed windows at Saint Mary's in Rathvilly, Co Carlow, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Rector Mervyn McCulloch said he believed local youths were responsible.

"The local residents heard the commotion and made a phone call to the gards," he said.

"What was happening was that some curb stones were being removed from the surround of a grave and being thrown through the windows of the church."

(GB)