Thugs Rob Priest At Gunpoint In His Church And Steal Money Raised For Orphanage

A priest has been robbed at gunpoint at his church.

Three men - one believed to be holding a handgun - rang the doorbell of the priest’s residence and demanded cash.

They then took him into St Vincent de Paul RC Church in St Helens, Merseyside before ordering him to empty a safe on Tuesday night.

Volunteers at the church said this is the second such incident after Father Peter Hannah was held at knifepoint several years ago.

Angela Thompson, 61, a parishioner at the church said: “I am absolutely disgusted - the money was being donated to an orphanage in Zimbabwe.

“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.”

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.”