Priests In Pyjamas Sit On Burglar

A burglar was nabbed in a scene that could have come straight out of TV's Father Ted – as three Catholic priests sat on him in their pyjamas.

Police were confronted by the unholy sight when they raced to the 2am break-in at a presbytery.

“Jimmy played a lot of rugby when he was younger – and floored him with a flying tackle. The chap was trying to break free and escape.”
The thug woke one of the clerics after spotting an open window and shimmying up a drainpipe into his room.

Father Jimmy Shiel, 67, leapt out of bed and chased him into a corridor – banging on housemates' doors.

He then bravely rugby-tackled the intruder – who battled desperately to get away in Dunstable, Beds.

But by then Father Kieran Magovern, 66, and Father Chacko Panathara, 61 – also in their jim-jams – had dashed to the aid of their fellow parish priest.

Father Magovern grinned yesterday: "Jimmy played a lot of rugby when he was younger – and floored him with a flying tackle. The chap was trying to break free and escape.

"But with the three of us on top of him he was going nowhere. I had my knee in his back. I rang 999 and told the police what was happening."

The trio continued to pin the burglar down until officers arrived at the presbytery next to the town's St Mary's Church – and hauled the offender away to pay for his sins.

Hours later on Sunday, the priests went about their normal church duties – with early morning mass, baptisms and meetings with parents of children preparing for their first communions.

The man, aged 28, was remanded in custody by a judge at Luton Magistrates' Court.

Article courtesy of www.policeoracle.com and