SIX unique Stations of the Cross were stolen from an East Galway Roman Catholic church last month, part of a collection of 14 gouache studies by the internationally renowned artist Evie Hone.

They were commissioned by a local family for the church of St Peter and St Paul, near Loughrea, and are among the painted artworks by Dublin-born Hone, who specialised in stained-glass windows, including one for the east window of Eton College chapel.

The theft was discovered by the parish priest, Fr Martin McNamara, who said that the crime was a "terrible blow" to the community.

Outline sketches which Hone created for the Stations fetched more than €40,000 at auction last year.