A lone man drove into the grounds of St Aengus Parish in Tallaght yesterday morning and committed the violent robbery.  It’s understood approximately €6,000 was to be donated to St Vincent de Paul and €4,000 to the church. Fr Ben Moran told the Irish Independent that the two volunteers were getting ready to transfer the money to the bank, but as they reached their car a hooded man drove up to the grounds blocking their exit. “He just casually walked up to the men while carrying a knife and said: ‘I’ll be taking that, gentlemen.'”

The volunteers resisted, but during the struggle the assailant slashed one of them in the arm. He then made off with the cash and drove away, leaving the two men in total disbelief. “It could have been a lot worse – who knows what this guy was capable of,” said Fr Moran. “The injured man ended up in hospital and needed stitches, but otherwise he’s doing fine.”

Tallaght councillor Mick Duff told the Irish Independent that he believes the man responsible must have done a significant amount of research before he carried out the robbery. “This guy definitely did his homework and must have known the routine of these two men,” he said. “This is a new low for our area. This money would have gone directly to poor and needy families – the thug that did this has literally robbed the bread from their mouths.”