This article is from page 8 of the 2008-09-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A THIEF with a fondness for flowers is being hunted in Shannon, after a church altar was robbed of its flow- ers last week.
The mystery thief walked into St John and Paul’s Church in Shannon last Thursday morning and walked away with two bunches of chrysan- themums.
The absence of the flowers was not- ed as the St Aidan’s National School Mass was about to get underway at llam. The flowers were put in place by the sacristan Sharon Murray the previous night and the church did not open until 9am on Thursday.
SW ie ICe AJ ikem NICK TON ae santhemums were taken, complete with their plastic containers, but the pedestals on which they stood re- mained in place.
It was initially thought that they were moved as no-one could imagine that a thief could lay hands on some- thing so seemingly insignificant.
Given that their value amounted to no more than €30, the sacristan was amazed at what happened.
“It is baffling. I have never heard of it in my life. To go up to the altar and take them was horrible. If it hap- pened during the school year, you would say it was a dare, but the chil- dren are back at school now,” said Ms Murray.
“My parents were sacristans before me and in 28 years, no-one has eve- ry swiped flowers. Money has been taken before, but not flowers,’ she added.
The matter was not reported to gardai and given that the flowers are probably well withered at this stage, there is little hope of their recovery!