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A MAN IN his 80s and a woman in her 60s have been arrested in France after thousands of stolen church artefacts were found in their homes.
The man reportedly has anti-clerical views and the woman was recently baptised.
Police confirmed that the pair were picked up after the detective work of a cleric in a Paris suburb correctly predicted when they would return to his church.
More than 3,000 religious objects — including crosses, statues, candles and rosary beads — were recovered from the homes of the man and his neighbour in the southern suburb of Bagneux during a search late last week.
“At the home of the octogenarian the toilets were absolutely full of crucifixes, there wasn’t so much as a square centimetre of space,” Ludovic Serre, a priest whose parish was among those targeted, said.
He has now managed to recover some of the lost items.
Serre spoke of the frequent disappearance of objects from his Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church in Chaville since last November.
“As soon as I put a cross out on the altar of confession, it would disappear,” he said, adding that when the crib was taken from the Christmas nativity display in December “it was too much and I filed a complaint”.
€10,000-worth
Police said that other religious buildings had been targeted by the same criminals over several weeks, with everything from cheap candles to old Russian icons disappearing, with the total worth of the stolen items put at around €10,000.
Serre, whose church is now protected by a video surveillance system, said the robbers appeared to have a quite precise method of operating, arriving “every four or five weeks, on Sundays between 4-4:30 pm”.
“I told the police that, according to my calculations, they should return on 21 February. And they did. Although half an hour early,” he added.
The investigators then followed the two suspects to their homes where they were quickly arrested.
The police had expected that the church thieves would be youngsters, the priest said.
“In fact they found an 80-year-old … a revolutionary who believes that church property should be taken away” and a woman in her sixties who “had recently been baptised”.
The pair have been released pending trial.
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Let it be the first of many conversations this country needs to have..time the people had our speak rather than listen to the constant horseshit from politicians
@Tony Skillington..not a big fan of our polititans but do you blame them for all the homeless people..
@sparky these citizens have done more to help the homeless in 2 days of action than the politicians have achieved in 2 years of waffle and debate
@john Barnes do you have a profile of the homeless people that entered there illegally. It’s not all black n white, do you give money to every homeless person you pass on the street..just a guess you don’t.
@ Sparky, in short YES. The majority of them are self serving liars that couldn’t give a shit about anything other than themselves.
Not all homeless people beg on the streets, some homeless are spending Christmas in a shitty hotel room, some are sleeping on a friends couch, what is happening here is a shelter is being provided for people who are sleeping rough in December in Dublin, how can you begrudge them?
I blame them for keeping them homeless Sparky. Each case on its own merits but when they are handing millions to horse racing Ireland while people remain homeless, then yes they are to blame.
@ Tony..Each case on its own merits? I agree now as I said previously try break down the figures, you can’t blame the government for everything, as much as i hate them there should be a broader discussion on homeless people..Tax payers can’t be responsible for them all.
@ John Barnes. I don’t begrudge homeless people that have found themselves in such a situation while trying to fight,however being homeless is not black and white. .
@Tony Skillington: the horse shit mouthy government are responsible for 30 people a year dying on our streets. It very obvious the politicians are stepping over young men sleeping rough going in and out of the dail. Imagine having a head cold or flu or gastroenteritis or any ailment being a rough sleeper. This government has got it wrong and it to late for those who have died on our streets. Let’s take charge to save lives and ignore our out of touch government a bunch of fools playing with plans and report that finding give the government a reason to do nothing.
Let us take charge.
@sparky: how dare you judge any human being. You are entitled to make a choice but most homeless people would chose a bed to sleep in at night. Warm and safe. Currently there are over 1000 children homeless I suppose you might want to blame them. I think not . Ireland has no homes that’s the real problem. Our government is in dysfunctional mode because it made up of people with lazy fat rust brains that do not work.
No fear of the institutionalised tubridy saying to Glen’ well done!
1000 children are not sleeping rough on the streets though are they ? ..
@ Robin Robin. “How dare you judge any human being”…read my posts. .but if pointing out some obvious facts is judging I stand corrected..u might want to advise a certain % of those parents on family planning.
Sparky – these politicians have been looking after the rich and ignoring everybody else – and this is the result. Austerity inflicted on the populace because of bankers frivolity and governments corruption and ineptitude has consequences – and homelessness is one of them.
@john barnes:
shitty hotel rooms? Dont they have a warm bed to sleep in at night. Are they paying for that room they are staying in? They are lucky they are not back out on the street.
Getting sick of this crap now some people in this country expect everything handed to them on a plate for free.
@ Dave Harris..politicians I’ve no time for, plastic money was enjoyed by many, bankers are wank#rs but nobody forced the average joe to accept it.But it’s not my fault syndrome for listening to Bertie while building 80,000 houses enough to supply the UK market at the time .sure it was great crack..
Yes Yes Yes
You would not catch out Bono supporting civil disobedience.
@sparky: Yes, Yes I do blame them.
@Aindriú Purfield: and with good cause and full justification.
@sparky: you cannot blame children and that was my point. Let’s only judge those in charge of finding a solution and that the government. They lost the solution by ignoring the obvious solution. Bed sits
While working on Grafton St, I met a young girl who came into the shop downstairs for a bit of warmth 2 christmases ago.
I talked to her.
She was 17. She was from Cork. She had come out to her parents as a lesbian and they sent her to Dublin to live with her aunt, but her aunt wouldn’t take her. So she stayed in a friends house until she could stay no longer. Since then, she had been sleeping on Grafton St. 2 years ago, she had been on the streets for 6 months.
I was at the time trying to leave an abusive relationship so I gave her a few euro and two cigarettes, let her stay down with me *browsing* until my shift was over.
Yes, not all homeless became that way through bad times but most did. Even the drug addicted had something happen to bring them to that path. House them all, rehab for them too. They are still people after all.
@Ms. Shannon Napier: Addiction is a big driver of homelessness obviously enough, but nowadays. in this climate, anyone renting could end up that way. I would be very concerned myself as a renter and parent to two young kids, were I to be given my notice tomorrow. Financially, I can afford my rent of 1100 comfortably. But could I find another pace to rent in the fist place is the question.
In the last number of weeks my wife and I have decided to buy a house next year,or more likely early 2018, despite the fact we don’t want to and had no intention of buying prior to this rental crisis.
Solidarity and well done to all those involved with Home Sweet Home. Anybody who voted for FF, FG or Labour has played a part in the making of this humanitarian crisis as it’s the inevitable result of the ideology they follow. Profit is king. People are disposable labour and consumer units to be exploited to the maximum.
It can happen to anybody no matter their background and there are countless reasons why it happens, not just addiction. We need the government to prioritise this issue. It feels like the government don’t believe the very evidence before their eyes. It feels like the government don’t listen or care about the ordinary Joe on the street. Having a roof over my head is a huge blessing, I am very grateful for this. There are tens of thousands of families in Ireland just one pay cheque away from poverty. This is the issue of our times and should be the main priority of our elected representatives.
Isn’t it shameful, sad and sickening that any parent in this day and age would throw out and disown their own offspring purely because of their sexual orientation, leaving them to live such a life, they must have no conscience. There are a myriad of reasons why people end up on the streets and it’s totally wrong for people to assume they are all junkies and alcoholics. The first homeless person I met and had a long chat and shared a bag of sweets with with was a young lad in his 20s, I was 17 at the time, turned out he had suffered a nervous breakdown in second year college and with no family or structured support ended up on the streets with mental health problems after being released from the mental institution. Last time I had a chat with a homeless lad was in November 2 years ago in cork, bought him a coffee and McDonald’s breakfast and gave him a fiver, sadly that was all I had on me at the time. Two conversations, 40 years apart, truly frustrating that there has been no change whatsoever.
@molly coddled: what beautiful humane sentiments and actions on your part.
Ms. Shannon, how a parent could do that to there daughter is beyond my comprehension, my love for my daughters and son is unconditional, if one told me they where gay or lesbian it wouldn’t change a thing, I would support them 100%, they don’t deserve her, it’s so sad she ended on the streets because of who she is
Time to reclaim our country.
The revolution starts here.
Yes Alex of course it is and what will happen then?
@Alan b..: Maybe places available for the homeless Alan?
@Alan: says the man who this morning claimed Glen Hansard was worth 145 million(!!!) And should put his money where his mouth is. You still standing by your fake claim Alan? At least people like Glen might actually embarrass this so called government into actually sorting the homeless situation out. What have you done Alan except put decent people down.
@Alan b imagine Tom Clarke had the same attitude as you.
Keep your head down now, good lad.
Yes. This will go down in history. A revolution started on the journal comment section. Jesus.
Glen Hansard was on the Simpsons. That’s enough for me..Legend
Great stuff Glenn and co. Action trumps words every time.
They are absolutely correct to take shelter…
Always the Governments fault and it is never the person’s fault.
@Just Some Guy: Could you expand on that and perhaps explain what you mean please? The government have stated in the latest figures that approximately 145 people are sleeping rough in Dublin and opened an additional 142 beds in the run up to Christmas. Yet somehow 100 people were still sleeping rough on the capital’s streets.
Fault and blame are irrelevant. We currently have the worst homeless crisis in this country since famine times, and the answer from successive governments? Allow banks and foreign vulture funds to buy up enormous swathes of property then raise the rents to the highest levels they’ve ever been in this country seeing hundreds evicted or handing back their keys every months. Under the guise of ensuring that a ‘false boom’ doesn’t happen again the government enacted laws that made it difficult for young couples to borrow for mortgages, this had the bonus of ensuring they had little choice but rent those properties owned by the banks and vulture funds. Purely a coincidence.
And while all this went on the very agency with the responsibility to govern and manage the governments property portfolio has itself been accused of fraudulent behaviour.
Our government has a duty of care to all it’s citizens, including the homeless, successive governments shameless greed and responsibility in helping create this situation leaves much of the blame for it at their feet. Any of us can find ourselves homeless.
@Jed I. Knight:
Nicely put. Let’s not forget the latest attempt to control the mental rents needed an evil Shinner to do some much needed revision of the legislation. Again.
@Jed I. Knight: The homeless crisis could be solved in 3 years if the government built an adequate supply of social housing but we have been conditioned through the media to blame those who can’t afford to pay extortionate rents.
If you become homeless in Ireland, it’s your fault and you need to work harder to put a roof over your head. In other words, get a second job and work longer hours until you can afford somewhere to live. Ireland has become an offshore American state where the interests of multi-nationals accessing corporate welfare take precedence over the well-being of society.
We have a spineless government who pass on their responsibilities to the charity sector while using every loophole available to them to lower tax for the big multi-nationals corporations! I am really worried for future generations, they are going to be born into abject slavery unless there is a revolution, not just in this country, but in all crony capitalist, westernised countries promoting life long financial slavery under the guise of liberal left freedom.
@Super Ted:
would you ever give over. People need to take responsibility in their own actions instead of always blaming the Government for their problems
@Just Some Guy: I would agree with you if we lived in a free market capitalist society. You really need to educate yourself on how the financial system works. Until you fully understand how quantitative easing and usury controls the masses, I vehemently disagree with your assertion that “people need to take personal responsibility” under the current mind controlled, herd mentality system that seeks to exploit the masses at every opportunity.
Yes, personal responsibility in terms of educating ourselves but opting out of the debt slavery system on mass is the only way we can take collective, proactive responsibility for ourselves and future generations.
@Super Ted: that is a profound and insightful comment. You see it.
@Just Some Guy: There we have it. The reason the government refuses to do anything about the homeless scandal.
“Personal Responsibility” the mantra of the Neo-Liberals.
The system where you pay the multitude of taxes imposed by government, but can expect no services in return. The services are “personal Responsibility”.
Where do the taxes go? Corporate Welfare.
@Super Ted: I’m well aware of how quickly the homeless crisis could be solved – but as we haven’t built any social housing since the 80′s it could be argued that there is more profit in forcing people into the private rental sector. As we have foreign companies investing in that area here for years they obviously see a stable future in that market, now how could they possibly foresee the future political climate in a country?
You make it sound like becoming homeless is a career choice! Loose a job, illness, death, why let’s travel to the capital, I hear the streets are a few degrees warmer there.
I do agree however that successive governments are passing on their responsibilities to the charity sector and lowering tax obligations to major multi-nationals corporations. This must be so insulting to our indigenous industries who are chased by the Revenue for every cent, only to see these ‘big boys’ pay little or nothing on billions.
When we talk about homeless and open up the debate, as harsh as it sounds there is a big difference between those that have found themselves homeless through the state putting obstacles in the way,People that have “become homeless ” through greed, and those that just won’t accept help . accountability.
@sparky: So there should be a criteria for grading the homeless and leave the greedy ones to freeze in doorways over the winter? At least Hansard and Co. are trying to do something. Be grateful you have a roof over your head rather than be negative about someone doing something positive.
If any of the Famous Five who down voted my reply to Sparky would reply to me rather than troll, I’ll be more than happy to listen to their opinions !
Tony , I agree that they are trying to do something and I’ll give them credit for it too !
Keep on trolling. Happy Christmas to you all even the trolls :-)
@Tony Smyth it’s a famous 13 now care to debate.
I’m waiting
I hate the way people are accused of being trolls on this site cos they don’t agree with what the majority say. It normally goes – popular opinion – government awful banks awful,everything government and banks fault- then someone gives a different opinion – Troll
Sparky – do you really think people are homeless because of greed??
You
Have
No
Idea
Good to see some concerned citizens. Pity our TD’s don’t have the same values…..
Nobody does begrudgery like the Irish. That being said, nobody helps those in need like us too. It’s a sad state of affairs that we are being conditioned into accepting that bailing out illegal banking debt is right but putting roofs over the heads of those less fortunate is wrong. We’re a nation who continuously vote in either FF or FG. When will we ever learn?
@Andrew Corcoran: I envy you the ability to express exactly what this is all about. Thank you.
Forget civil disobedience it’s f##king serious kickass rioting we need in order to change things.
@Juan Franc:
oh yeah rioting will solve the problem.
Well we haven’t tried it yet so how do you know it wouldn’t?
I forget…how many times have we asked nicely for the government to not totally screw us over and they said “Okay lads, since you asked nicely.”
Water protests were compared to ISIS in the dáil, people refusing to pay were labelled criminals by elected representatives. But do you really think they’d have rolled back on the charges if we’d just been asking nicely.
Nah, they would’ve passed legislation, just like how they passed legislation allowing private companies to take money straight out of out pay.
Stop buying the fantasy that our TDs actually care about our welfare. Stop believing that asking nicely will get you anywhere. Stop asking at all and start demanding.
Make politicians afraid again (and not just that they won’t get reelected and have to struggle by on their six-figure pensions that they don’t even have to make contributions to).
Why people give out about celebrities endorsing movements like this is beyond me. The fact that numerous people will have a roof over their head is surely what is most important. I saw these volunteers in action tonight and was humbled. I was lucky enough to be in the pub across the road with my family having a drink to celebrate Xmas, a luxury the homeless people don’t have. For anyone interested in helping out I asked what they need and they said everything from bedding to clothes, food, toiletries, toys etc.
@Roisin O’leary: you have encouraged me to help out. You say it so well.
Helping the real homeless… Fair play ..
@ suzie sunshine. what’s the real homeless..can u clarify that one for me. Please
@sparky: You know the people sleeping on the street? Would have thought that’s pretty straight forward….
Oh.. kerry would they be all blameless..I guess I got my priorities wrong…they are not all homeless for the same reasons..but lets pretend and play house. Everyone is entitled to one.
@sparky , people who sleep in doorways . People who keep their worldly little possessions in a plastic bag .. people who actually live on the streets ..
Who said that they were all homeless for the same reasons ?
@ suzie thanks..I was just about to look up the dictionary to explain the term..u saved me the “Hassle”..
Read my previous posts before you reply..just out of courtesy. .thanks.
Sparky .. can you explain a bit more about the point you’re trying to make ?
@sparky: You do not seem to have any grasp whatsoever of anyone elses plight ‘sparky’
i doubt you can see further than your own nose.
@ suzie read my posts on here and I think you will find them self explanatory
@Dave Harris by “anyone else’s plight” so we’re all in this together then. Right so…give me ur address I will forward you with my bills and maybe you can help me out ..all without affecting your tax credits of course.
Sparky .. I have but I must be missing something. …
@suzie before I start tell put in a short post what I’ve said..is pointing out that there are many different reasons for homeless people just to hard for you to understand
Sparky. . Not difficult all thanks. By the way, I do agree with that point you’ve just said ..
@suzie well then you didn’t read or understand my posts at all ..or your just to afraid to actually debate
Sparky maybe you weren’t getting your point across well ? .. why would I be afraid to debate when I agree with your point …
“I have but I must be missing something..but hey it’s the journal and messages get crossed all over the place.
@sparky: interesting how you are with the negative vibes.
@ Michael OLainn. It’s called a debate ..care to elaborate.
@sparky: I was observing that the tone of your comments combines negativity and resentment. The good thing about a debate is that you can have that attitude. Others don’t have to share it.
@ Michael OLainn. .I’m glad that your observations are in line with your thoughts, but guess what others don’t have to share it…how do you like your porridge in the morning
@sparky: lovely. It’s full of Christmas joy and positivity.
This will all end in tears!
We should all pay a little more tax to support the homeless.
Abolishing USC is crazy. Everyone taxpayer should contribute something.
They could bring in a law tomorrow that was called the ‘help the homless tax’ and it would be 0.5% of your post tax wage and not one single cent of it would end up helping a person on the street in genuine need of it. it would be like all iur “ring fenced” taxes…consumed into the black hole that is the general taxation pot and used for everything but the one thing it is intended for. To support the homless we are better doing what Hansard did (and i am not his biggest fan at all) and do things rather than expect our “leadership” to do anything other than look after themselves.
Thing is where is our USC money going? Helping those in need or funnelling back to the German banks?
MK76. You really need to cop on with that crap. More tax me hole.
I would pay more tax to address homelessness.
@(((Jason))) “Everyone” taxpayer should contribute? I think u will find “everyone” taxpayer already contributes. Like u said through tax. USC was just a temporary thing that unfortunately we still have to pay.. I honesty think taxpayers should be given a tax free or USC free pay check before Xmas instead of giving people on social welfare the Christmas bonus (illness & disability excluded..they should still get it)
Tubridy in his D4tress
F*ck the current government.
It hates Ireland.
Where is the government plan to end the housing humanitarian crisis by December 31st 2017?
If it can’t commit then the people need to take charge.
This is a national emergency and if revolution is necessary then so be it.
Sure your a blue SHIRT aren’t you
Everyone is praising them n saying the government not doing enough But how many ppl give a tenner or so when walking past a homeless person on there pay day or go make food n give it out at night to them Or give up a spare bed
how are they processing people to get them in?
will it be those that didn’t get one of the new 160 emergency beds provided a few weeks ago?
i know they are looking for plumbers so I hope they are putting in basic facilities such as showers, medical support etc.
I can see it now. Hansard director of operations . While Bono , Christy , Mattress Mick et all drive the tanks. That would make the six one news worth watching. Up the revolution . Yeah, right !!
Well done to all involved.
But be careful, Enda and his sheep will label y’all ‘populists’ !
@Kevin Gibb: we have to be respectable and compliant.
Civil disobedience is intolerable. These people don’t know their place.
This group of people entered Apollo house with a plan and in a few days will be able to accommodate about 60-70 homeless people. If a group of volunteers can do this so quickly and efficiently it goes to show the absolute bullshite talk and bureaucracy that goes on in Leinster house when dealing with the homeless problem.
Glen Hansard is a national hero. Let it be known. A hero to the working man. The NON working man even. All hail Glen Hansard. I would say that he deserves to be revered. For his ‘work’ like, you know? Philanthropy and what have you. A ginger Bono. Go Glen Hansard! He’s not self obsessed at all. That is mere rumour. Conjecture at best.
@John Duffy:
Glen Hansard a national hero? Now that is funny
@Just Some Guy: Satire dude. Glen Hansard is not a national hero. I’m assuming you got that?
@John Duffy:
Ah yeah, pick out a member of the group to discredit the whole thing. Brilliant. Hearing it all day.
You’re doing satire wrong. You’re sarcasm is on point though.
@Charlie Fogarty: Fair point Charlie, can’t argue with that in fairness. Was just having an oul laugh you know?
@John Duffy:
Fair enough John. I’m certainly not one to condemn a giggle.
Millionaire acts caring. Bless.
50,000 extra units of social / affordable homes need to be ready by December 31st 2017.
The government needs to understand that this is a non-negotiable expectation.
It will cost much less than the annual private banking debt we are paying.
If the govt can’t deliver this very reasonable expectation then it is welcoming violent revolution.
It really is that simple.
Good man Glen. Thumbs up from this tax payer here. The government is fleecing the tax payers for years it’s about time we took something back.
Dangerous Radicals, they are going to give the ‘people’ ideas above their station……next thing you know empty buildings all over Dublin will be invaded and taken over by all sorts of degenerate groups to house homeless families and other unfortunates…. Can you imagine?? This must be nipped in the bud…empty private properties must be protected….Send in the Riot Squad I say…. they’ll sort them out.
Signed: Outraged Dublin 4
@Todd Ireland: that is superb ! You capture the tone of indignation of the D 4 type perfectly.
Breakups make men homeless that’s the end!
Any fear of turbid heading down for the night?
Maybe make a donation?
It’s great to see some great and mighty people doing something about our homeless crisis in Ireland and the great Simon the TD is only a phone call away if they need a bed shame on you Covney and your cronies ye cant do nothing only jump on the band wagon!!!
Great to see the audience applauding Glen last night. I wonder how many of them donated the free hampers they got to ‘ Home sweet home’
Didn’t see the late late, but have been told that after this interview Tubridy and RTE gave all the people in the audience, those all going back to a warm home and very likely filled fridges and cosy beds, a “FREE HAMPER for everyone in that audience”!!!!
Disgusting.
This brought me to tears.
Trying to reply to Sparky but getting blocked.
Talk here Sparky. I can’t reply
Why.
@Tony Smyth
Do you want to debate Sparky?
Give me your best shot on the ‘homeless “
Some have a better case for being given a home than others but no-one should be left on the street unless it’s their choice to stay there.
Tony thats what I’ve been saying all night.. not black n white cases.
It’s grand to agree on the homeless. Some who lied about their income when applying for a mortgage are hard to have sympathy for. But what about this ‘housing crisis’. Media, banks, developers, builders conning good people into overpriced new homes when there’s perfectly good properties that could be brought up to a habitable spec for less than the price of a site for a new build.
Please check out our FB page http://www.facebook.com/WomenNeedTowels We are collecting feminine care products for homeless women.
We have a big problem here we have the willing to do something but we don’t have the knowledge to succeed I am asking the government that are our employees to work to get this issue fixed
Glen Hansard appears to have appropriately turned into Farnese Hercules. Go google the image.
Silence from polititions is deafening
How could he have made those millions with a one hit wonder????
Poor Glen, he badly looks like he needs bed himself.
have your say