Robbers break into church and threaten priest with hammer A priest has been left badly shaken after robbers went into a Catholic church in County Down and threatened him with a hammer. The pair then forced the parish priest, Fr Peter O'Kane, into the parochial house beside St Colmcille's Church, High Street, Holywood. The incident happened at about 18:20 GMT on Tuesday. The robbers left with money and a mobile phone. The police have appealed for information. Fr Eddie McGee, a spokesman for the Down and Connor diocese, said Fr O'Kane had been in the church to say the rosary when he was accosted by the two men. "It appears that they approached Fr O'Kane armed with a hammer and threatened him, asking him for money," he said. They then forced him to go into the sacristy to get him to open the parish safe and then forced him into the parish house. Fr McGee said his colleague had been left very distressed by the incident, and condemned recent attacks on clergy. There appears to be over the past number of weeks a growing tendency of attacks on clergy who are very vulnerable. These attacks are very, very distressing for those concerned. Mayor of North Down, Councillor Andrew Muir, said local people were appalled at what happened. The church is such a welcoming place. So for this to occur saddens people," he said. I'm really hoping people will come forward to the police with information around this matter so that they can catch these two people who did this terrible act.