POLICE have bailed two men who were arrested on suspicion of an armed robbery at a church.
The St Helens men, aged 34 and 26, were questioned by detectives last week after Father Peter Hannah was made to open a safe – containing donations to a Zimbabwean orphanage – at St Vincent de Paul Church on Derbyshire Hill Road, in Parr.
It is believed he was threatened at gunpoint by three robbers who rang the bell of his residence and ordered him to take them to the Parr church.
A 27-year-old man, who was also arrested in the days after the robbery, was released without charge while police assess evidence.
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.
“Such events are an attack on the whole of the worshipping community who in these last weeks have given of their time to raise money for an orphanage in Zimbabwe.
“The repercussions of this act will be felt far beyond the town of St Helens.
“Anyone wishing to donate to the lost funds can send cheques directly to the church made payable to the Church of Vincent De Paul.”
The crime sparked outrage among Star readers, with many turning to the newspaper’s social media pages.
Residents commented on Facebook about the incident and their hopes to help the church re-raise the stolen funds.
Anne Farrall said: “Who on earth would do this to a priest? And steal charity money.
“It’s beyond belief, so sad.”
Lillian Ryder added: “The minority are giving the town a bad name which we have got to stamp out before it gets worse.”
Amy Platt wrote: “What can we do to help get donations together for the orphanage?
“It’s hard when things like this happen and you lose your faith in humanity a little, but we cannot let the bad in people overshadow the good in others.”
Anyone with information about the robbery, which happened shortly before 6.30pm on Tuesday, December 20, can contact detectives at on 0151 777 6811, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
