Waterford judge calls church break-in 'abhorrent to society' and a 'new low'
St John's Church, Parnell Street, Waterford City
A Waterford judge has called the burglary of a city church “abhorrent to society” and a “new low” for the man who carried it out.
Judge Kevin Staunton was speaking as he imposed a 10-month prison sentence on John Hennessey (42), of McGwire House, Bath Street, Waterford, who pleaded guilty to burglary at St John’s Church on Parnell Street in January.
Judge Staunton said: “We don’t live in a time when people have as much respect for the church as they once did.
“But having on one’s record stealing from a church is a new low, and it’s hard to see why anyone would behave in that way.
“It is abhorrent to society, even if people are not as religious as they used to be. It’s hard to describe,” said Judge Staunton.
Sgt Michael Hickey told the court that at 8am on January 12, 2026, gardaí were alerted by the church’s groundsman of a break-in.
A door and window had been smashed, and a coin box containing around €1,350 had been damaged and its contents stolen.
Gardai found the defendant a short distance away, “in the process of picking up the coins” off the ground.
They said some of the money had been recovered.
The court heard that the man had 17 previous convictions, including for theft, robbery and possession.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham argued that all of the money was recovered as his client was “effectively caught red-handed”.
He said that when his client was arrested, he admitted to the offence and made no application for bail.
The man, he said, had been homeless and struggled with addiction, but wanted a release date as he is keen to be present for some “familial milestones”.
He could have had the matter put back, but was eager to deal with it today and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, the solicitor told the court.
Judge Staunton acknowledged the man’s previous record and his polysubstance misuse problems.
The defendant, who appeared by video link, told the judge he was “disgusted with myself”, to which the judge responded, “so you should be”.
Judge Staunton imposed a 10-month prison sentence backdated to when the defendant went into custody and fixed recognisance at €500.
