Break-in at historic city church condemned

Rev Nigel Cairns said the church is a "sacred and holy place"

Intruders who broke in and ransacked a hall attached to one of Londonderry's most historic churches are on "the wrong side of morality", the church rector has said.

The hall at the 153-year-old St Augustine's Church on the city's walls – thought to be the site of a 6th Century monastery - was broken into at about 22:30 BST on Wednesday.

"I don't imagine whoever did this thought they were violating a sacred site," Rev Nigel Cairns told BBC News NI, adding that "perhaps the motive was just to get what they could".

Police said a 34-year-old man has been charged with burglary and theft offences in relation to a series of burglaries in the city over recent days and will appear in court on Friday.

The church hall, once a schoolhouse, now houses a café

"I don't know the backstory to whoever did this and don't want to jump to any conclusions, but it is wrong, it is the wrong side of the law, it is the wrong side of morality," Rev Cairns added.

Built in 1872, the hall was once the site of a schoolhouse connected to the church, which is believed to be the site of St Columba's first monastery, founded in the year 545.

"This is a holy and sacred place," Rev Cairns said.

"Anyone who comes here say, they would have a deep sense of spirituality, be that Christian or any other visitor who comes through the gates."

A full assessment of the damage will only happen, he said, when police allow church staff back into the hall.

St Augustine's sits on Derry's walls and is thought to be the site of a 6th Century monastery

The church rector and one of the parishioners went to the church late on Wednesday night after being alerted by police.

"We discovered the main door had been broken, and the inside door pushed through," the rector said.

"Whoever was responsible had gone into the church hall, into what we call the Canon Howe room, where the church café is based," Rev Cairns said, adding that the room and store were "ransacked".

"As a Christian minister, who is a steward of a sacred and holy site here in the city, this is just not nice," he said.

"There is a cash register there connected with the café and all of that whole area has been ransacked.

"But there is no money in the cash register or on site," Rev Cairns said.