SIX OIL PAINTINGS of the stations of the cross were stolen in the middle of the day from a church in Co Galway yesterday.

The paintings were by well-known Dublin artist, Evie Hone who was renowned painter work and stain-glass artist.

Parish Priest at the Church of St Peter and Paul at Kiltullagh, Fr. Martin McNamara, told TheJournal.ie that the theft happened “sometime between 10am and 5.30pm, in broad daylight”.

“Six out of the 14 paintings were stolen – the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th,” he said. “The whole set are worth around €500,000″.

The paintings are quite large, around 4ft by 3ft and were in a timber frame and were hanging on both sides of the church for the last 67 years.

“The paintings were the only stations of the cross that Evie Hone ever painted,” explained Fr. McNamara. “They hung in the church since 1946 and were never touched until yesterday”.

Gardaí have technically examined the scene and investigations are in place.