Posted online: Aug 31st, 2010

A 32-year-old man appeared at Derry Magistrates Court yesterday charged with stealing items from the home of Bishop of Derry, Most Rev. Dr. Seamus Hegarty.

Seamus Devine, of Bloomfield Park, Galliagh was granted bail and ordered not to contact the Bishop or go near his home. Devine denies entering the Bishop’s house on Buncrana Road on Friday last as a trespasser and stealing a number of items.

The court heard how the Bishop believed the intruder in his home was carrying a weapon after he was awakened and confronted by him in his bedroom doorway in the early hours of the morning.

The intruder then asked the Bishop how to get out of the house to which he replied: “through the back door.”

After he left, the Bishop discovered a number of items were missing, including his ring, his wallet and watch, some antique coins, two bottles of alcohol and a set of rosary beads.

The court was told the Bishop’s credit card was later recovered from a fire near his home and found some of the stolen items in Devine’s home.