Mass brawl breaks out in church

9:40am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News Exclusive By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

Holy Cross Church Holy Cross Church

ELDERLY churchgoers had to flee for safety when a fight erupted between a group of men during an evening mass.

Police were called to Holy Cross Church at Corporation Street on Saturday evening following reports that the men were brawling inside.

Parishioners were appalled by the mayhem, in which it was reported candlesticks were used as weapons.

An eyewitness, who has asked not to be named, told the Star: “There looked to be around 40 of them running riot.

“Police had to stop the mass because they were fighting. Quite a few elderly people were upset. The men seemed to be speaking a foreign language.

“Most of the elderly people went out through a side door, while the fighting carried on in Parade Street.”

Police found one man with a cut to his head, but he refused medical attention.

They confirmed there were around 30 people involved in the disturbance, but insisted that only two were actually fighting during mass, which was led by Father Colin Fealey.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “This must have been very upsetting for the other people inside the church at the time. Obviously this type of behaviour inside a church is totally unacceptable and we are continuing to work to trace those responsible.”

A statement from the Archdiocese of Liverpool read: “Towards the end of the 6.45pm mass at Holy Cross Church on Saturday, Feb 23 an incident took place which led to the involvement of the police. As those involved were not parishioners or regular members of the congregation, we are unable to comment further.”

A police spokesperson added: “CCTV is being examined and enquiries are on-going in the area. The neighbourhood team will continue to visit the church and school to offer reassurance.

“I would urge anyone who has had any information about this incident to contact officers via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Comments(22)

pitbullboxing says...
9:49am Thu 28 Feb 13

More lovely foreigners ! Thanks Labour !

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WTONSkeptic says...
9:59am Thu 28 Feb 13

pitbullboxing wrote:
More lovely foreigners ! Thanks Labour !
Bold comment, it said they seemed to speek a foreign language, maybe they were scousers? I cant understand a word they say

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Sankey says...
10:06am Thu 28 Feb 13

What next ? Unbelievable and fairly frightening too. I think we have a right to know who these people are. Most people have a basic core of decency even villains. This is clearly some gang related issue and you have to say either the travelling community or some imigrant group where they are bringing over their conflicts to Britain. I might be wrong but its a fair bet. Just one more legacy of labours mess.

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MLHP says...
10:31am Thu 28 Feb 13

It was travellers... Possibly the same lot who held a bare knuckle fight in Sherdley park at the weekend....

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suttonboy says...
5:29pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Jesus wept

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jumper says...
6:05pm Thu 28 Feb 13

It shows that our justice system is a deterrent not,our lawmakers should be brought before!!?? can't think of anybody.

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Sankey says...
9:58pm Thu 28 Feb 13

With all this being evidently tolerated how long will it be before a member of the public is caught up in it?

It really is very disconcerting.

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Bill Bradbury says...
10:07pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Don't worry our Police Commisioner will sort it out!!?? Police have run for cover.

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Sankey says...
10:43pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Bill Bradbury wrote:
Don't worry our Police Commisioner will sort it out!!?? Police have run for cover.
Well they are supposed to improve accountability to the public so here.s our chance to address the traveller problem. I don't have a problem with travellers generally but you cannot tolerate violence and gun crime which the police would come down hard on were it any other member of the public.

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Sankey says...
11:15pm Thu 28 Feb 13

If these people are travellers then should be reported as such. I don't know what they are but the description in the article is not creditable and it s a disgrace the star is deleting perfectly relevant comments.

If things are that secret then don't report it at all rather than a fairy story.

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jumper says...
9:13am Fri 1 Mar 13

I posted when will our p/c be visiting us !?,We should have one because I am sure we will be put on the back burner again.

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sherlock1 says...
4:02pm Fri 1 Mar 13

This was reported in the Telegraph more great news for our town no wonder no one wants to invest here it's about time these people where run out of town for good

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Sankey says...
4:34pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Well after all that secrecy it turns out they were travellers after.

Well blow me down with a peashooter.

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democracyisdead says...
5:28pm Fri 1 Mar 13

WTONSkeptic wrote:
pitbullboxing wrote:
More lovely foreigners ! Thanks Labour !
Bold comment, it said they seemed to speek a foreign language, maybe they were scousers? I cant understand a word they say
Bold comment - but he was right.
Why can't they just travel somewhere else?

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jumper says...
6:44pm Fri 1 Mar 13

You know what so sad is that the people of St Helens are let down on every topic that needs to be sorted, fixed or any other thing that needs sorting. All you ever get is we can't ,why on earth do they put up apply for or involve theirselves inso called it is good when they do nothing.

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sja_75 says...
8:40pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Can't believe I have read this article, or to acknowledge its occurrence.

If it is to be believed that 'Travellers' are involved something ought to be done. It is not the first time is it.

Equally... Our town is being invaded. Scousers and those foreigners too.

Enough.

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Bill Bradbury says...
10:04pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Even the Pope has had enough!

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moonman77 says...
11:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Fighting in church..... Its a new low.

Does anyone think like me, that we are now the underclass district in Merseyside?

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joecos says...
12:43am Sat 2 Mar 13

I feel heartily sorry for the decent
living folk of St Helens . How far
down the socal ladder will the old
town be allowed to fall before
something is done .

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Sumner says...
4:20am Sat 2 Mar 13

sja_75, I went to St Helens 'Tech.' between 1974 and 1980. I 'invaded' St Helens back in 2002 with my family. I invaded here from Leigh. I've contributed to the taxes I have had to pay. My children have grown up in St Helens, have friends and use the facilities. It's the small-minded attitudes like yours that keeps towns like St Helens Jurassic, bare of shops and big on attitude. I have no idea if you vote or not, but I suspect people with your attitude (I imagine you are not alone), either continue to vote the same old or, don't vote at all, leaving people like me with the mess. New people, fresh ideas make fresh, new changes. If you want things to stay as they are I suggest you wear a smock, sit on a gate post and chew on a piece of straw.

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jumper says...
12:31pm Sat 2 Mar 13

The people who vote for the same is the nonlisteners or readers and that is where the hard work begins,but they are still entitled to do has they think fit. They know who and how many vote and that is where the concentration of canvassing goes

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democracyisdead says...
6:15pm Mon 4 Mar 13

It's a shame when a government such as New Labour forces a whole amount of foreign people on communities without them having a say in it. They changed the face of the country forever without anybody having a choice.
Sad to see stupid comments about "scousers" , small town small mentality.

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