Thieves have stolen more than €13,000 collected in aid of the tsunami disaster appeal from a church in Co Mayo.
Robbers broke into St Patrick's Church in Ballyhaunis between 2pm and 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.
They forced the sacristy door, damaging a lock before breaking open the safe and making off with the money.
Parish priest Fr Joseph Cooney said it was sickening that anyone could steal donations from a church.
The money was donated as part of a nationwide collection in churches to raise cash for the thousands of people affected by the St Stephen's Day tsunamis across the Indian Ocean.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone with information, or who may have seen anything suspicious, to contact them.
