Murder suspect held with possible link to ‘brutal' bottle attack that left priest in hospital
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55 mins ago
A 30-YEAR-OLD man remains in custody after police launched a murder investigation in Downpatrick which may be linked to a violent assault on a parish priest.
PSNI officers were called to St Patrick's Church on St Patrick's Avenue, Downpatrick, shortly after 10am yesterday after reports that a man had entered the building, approached Father John Murray and asked to make a confession.
Moments later, the 74-year-old priest was struck on the head with a bottle.
Fr Murray, who was preparing to celebrate his final Sunday Mass before retiring this week, sustained a serious head injury and was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Police described the incident as a 'completely shocking and brutal attack'.
Two hours later, at about noon, officers were called to a house in Marian Park, on the outskirts of the town, where a man in his 60s was found dead.
It is understood that he had been stabbed multiple times.
Emergency services attended the scene, but confirmed no one was taken to hospital.
A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.
PSNI officers said they are investigating whether the two incidents are linked.
Detective Chief Inspector McBurney appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Fr Murray, originally from Ballygowan and a priest for almost 50 years, has served in Downpatrick parish for the past 11 years.
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St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick, Co Down.
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He remains seriously ill but stable in hospital.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil at St Brigid's Church on Sunday evening to pray for Fr Murray and remember the man who died.
A statement from the Downpatrick Family of Parishes thanked the public for their prayers and asked people not to speculate online.
'Please keep everyone involved in your prayers in the days ahead,' it said.
St Patrick's Church remains closed, and all masses there have been cancelled until further notice.
'Difficult to comprehend'
Fr Edward McGee, a priest in the diocese of Down and Connor, described the murder and attack on Fr Murray as 'a shocking series of events'.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said that Fr Murray is 'well respected and liked' in the Downpatrick community, who are praying for his recovery.
'He has a great commitment to his ministry and to the people,' Fr McGee said. 'People here are just so shocked that this would happen to him.'
It is difficult to comprehend that this would happen to a priest.
Fr McGee said that Fr Murray received 'quite serious' heart injuries, and he is serious but stable in hospital.
Local SDLP councillor Conor Galbraith described it as 'a really difficult 24 hours' for Downpatrick.
Galbraith, who knows the family of the murder victim, said that the community was providing support to the man's family, including his two daughters and grandchildren.
He also described Fr Murray as 'a very quiet man, but a pillar of the community' in Downpatrick.
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Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
Community left in ‘great fear', mass told, as priest is ‘progressing' after attack
It came as hundreds of shocked parishioners gathered for a special mass in Co Down. Fr John Murray is 'progressing' in his recovery, a colleague said. It came as hundreds of shocked parishioners gathered for a special mass in Co Down this morning. A man in his 30s continues to be questioned over murder and attempted murder. Shortly before mass on Sunday, Fr Murray was approached by a man in his 30s in a distressed state, reportedly shouting and crying out in St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick. Fr John Murray. Photo: Pacemaker It is reported the man sought to have Fr Murray hear his confession in the sacristy. However, the suspect is said to have assaulted the priest by hitting him on the head with a bottle. Fr Murray sustained a serious head injury and is being treated in a hospital in Belfast. Fr Murray was due to retire on Thursday, and had been preparing to celebrate his last mass as parish priest. It is believed that the murder of local grandfather Stephen Brannigan, who was found in the Marian Park area of the town on the same day, is connected to the assault. Stephen Brannigan This morning a special mass for Fr Murray is taking place in Downpatrick. It is being celebrated by Bishop Alan McGuckian in St Colmcille's Churchin support of the Brannigan family and for Fr Murray. Bishop McGuckian said: 'At a moment like this when so many people feel a great fear and a great sense of uncertainty, 'What is going on? What is happening to us?' Jesus comes to us.' He added: 'Despite the terrible things we have to bare, the horrible things we have to bare we are a people of hope.' The church was packed with parishioners. Speaking at the scene, former SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie, who is from Downpatrick, said people wanted to show their support for those affected. St Patrick's Church, St Patrick's Avenue, Downpatrick. Inset: Fr John Murray News in 90 Seconds - August 12th "First of all I want to offer my sympathy and my condolences to the Brannigan family on the sad death and passing of Stephen in such tragic circumstances,' she said. 'Of course I know Fr John, he has been parish priest here for the last 11 years and he provided excellent pastoral stewardship in the very big Catholic parish of Downpatrick. "He has been very strong on ecumenical relations, particularly here with the Church of Ireland cathedral in Downpatrick. "So for all of those reasons I wanted to come here today to show that support, that solidarity with Fr John and wish him a very speedy recovery.' Speaking before the mass, Fr Martin Graham said there was a lot of shock at recent events. 'From what we understand [his condition] is comfortable and stable. And that is all we have been told,' said Fr Graham told Good Morning Ulster. Read more 'He is progressing. There is a family grieving as well, there are two daughters, there is a dad, there are grandchildren grieving their grandad. 'It is important for us to remember the Brannigan family in all of this. That they get support, they have the support of the parish as well. 'The mass this morning is going to be a very simple, gentle mass. The bishop will offer it to support people of the town, to support the Brannigan family. 'Downpatrick, like every other town, has its problems. But the level of violence that took place on Sunday really upset the people of Downpatrick. 'That's why, even on Sunday evening, the parishioners themselves came together in St Brigid's Church to pray for an support each other.' On Monday night the family of Mr Brannigan released a statement outlining their sense of loss. Fr Graham added: 'They [the family] were willing to make that statement last night, it was absolutely heart-breaking but also so wonderful that they were able to sit down and compose something, which is so difficult to write at the best of times, but to write that in these circumstances, it was just so beautiful of them. 'Fr Murray would have been really appreciative of it, as they are appreciative of the fact that he is also praying for them.'People went to mass that Sunday morning expecting to say goodbye to him and put their arm around him to say goodbye and I think, please God, he will be able to come back and join them for another mass just where they can be able to show them the love that they have for him.'
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Co Down community ‘shaken and upset' after priest attack and death of man
A community in Co Down has been 'shaken and upset deeply' by the attack on a priest and the death of a man at the weekend, Bishop Alan McGuckian has said. Father John Murray was struck on the head in a brutal attack at St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick on Sunday. He was approached by a man who asked if he would hear his confession ahead of the morning service, and then attacked as shocked parishioners arrived for mass. Father Murray had been due to retire later this week. Bishop Alan McGuckian (left) thanking PSNI Superintendent Norman Haslett (centre) and Sergeant Suzanne Cochrane (right) for attending a mass at St Colmcille's Church in Downpatrick (Liam McBurney/PA) Police have said the attack may be linked to the death of a man in Downpatrick who had been named locally as Stephen Brannigan. A 30-year-old man remains in police custody being questioned on suspicion of murder after Mr Brannigan was found dead at an address in Marian Park at about 12pm on Sunday. A mass was held for Father Murray and Mr Brannigan's family at St Colmcille's Church in Downpatrick on Tuesday. Bishop McGuckian said the whole community has been 'shaken and upset deeply' by the recent events. The Bishop of Down and Connor told those gathered: 'There's so many ways in which hearts can be stirred in moments like this. 'People carrying what-ifs and what-only and so many other things like that. 'It's a times like this that we Christians are called to rely totally on the mercy of God. 'We are invited to have courage and not to fear. 'At a moment like this when so many people feel a great fear and a great sense of uncertainty, what is going on? What on Earth is happening to us? 'It is easier said than done and it is not a once-off. 'Everyone at times must feel a terrible sense of uncertainty, like walking on water. The people of Downpatrick are being asked to face in to dealing with a reality that we cannot make sense of, we cannot handle 'On Sunday when I heard the news, I was just going to the diocesan pilgrimage in Moneyglass and had to speak about hope, this is the jubilee of hope. 'That's another invitation to you this morning, in spite of the terrible things we have to bear, we are a people of hope. 'Our hope does not come from ourselves, if it came from ourselves we would throw it up. It comes from beyond us, it comes from the one who says courage it is I, do not be afraid.' Those at the mass were told it has been a 'traumatic and shocking' few days. Father John, who has been a priest in the area for about 11 years, was beginning his final week at the parish when he was attacked. Speaking after the mass, Bishop McGuckian said: 'Hope is one of these things that can sound quite ephemeral until it is really needed. Hope only kicks in when things are really bad, when we cannot do it ourselves. 'The people of Downpatrick are being asked to face in to dealing with a reality that we cannot make sense of, we cannot handle. 'That courage is a call to hope and I think that is exactly what we need to hear at this time.' A Police Service of Northern Ireland scene of crime officer in the Marian Park area of Downpatrick where a murder investigation was launched (Liam McBurney/PA) He added: 'The thing that gave me the most consolation on Sunday was when I heard that hundreds of people had gather spontaneously to pray for Stephen and Fr John, that gives me a sense that in this community there are the resources to really come together and be strong for one another. 'There are great people in this community.' He said he hoped to meet with the Brannigan family in the coming days. Bishop McGuckian also said that Fr Murray is 'increasingly comfortable' and will do well in his recovery in hospital. Detectives issued an appeal for information about the two incidents. Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson said: 'On Sunday morning, August 10, at approximately 10.10am, police received a report that a priest had been seriously assaulted. 'This was in a church in the St Patrick's Avenue area of the town. 'A man entered the church and brutally attacked the priest with a bottle. 'The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a head injury. Here, he remains in a serious, but stable, condition.' The detective said that while attending the serious assault, police received a report of the man's death at an address in the Marian Park area of the town.
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Downpatrick community left in ‘great fear' after attack, mass told, as priest is ‘progressing' his recovery in hospital
Fr John Murray is 'progressing' in his recovery, a colleague said. It came as hundreds of shocked parishioners gathered for a special mass in Co Down this morning. A man in his 30s continues to be questioned over murder and attempted murder. Shortly before mass on Sunday, Fr Murray was approached by a man in his 30s in a distressed state, reportedly shouting and crying out in St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick. It is reported the man sought to have Fr Murray hear his confession in the sacristy. However, the suspect is said to have assaulted the priest by hitting him on the head with a bottle. Fr Murray sustained a serious head injury and is being treated in a hospital in Belfast. Fr Murray was due to retire on Thursday, and had been preparing to celebrate his last mass as parish priest. It is believed that the murder of local grandfather Stephen Brannigan, who was found in the Marian Park area of the town on the same day, is connected to the assault. This morning a special mass for Fr Murray is taking place in Downpatrick. It is being celebrated by Bishop Alan McGuckian in St Colmcille's Churchin support of the Brannigan family and for Fr Murray. Bishop McGuckian said: 'At a moment like this when so many people feel a great fear and a great sense of uncertainty, 'What is going on? What is happening to us?' Jesus comes to us.' He added: 'Despite the terrible things we have to bare, the horrible things we have to bare we are a people of hope.' The church was packed with parishioners. Speaking at the scene, former SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie, who is from Downpatrick, said people wanted to show their support for those affected. "First of all I want to offer my sympathy and my condolences to the Brannigan family on the sad death and passing of Stephen in such tragic circumstances,' she said. 'Of course I know Fr John, he has been parish priest here for the last 11 years and he provided excellent pastoral stewardship in the very big Catholic parish of Downpatrick. "He has been very strong on ecumenical relations, particularly here with the Church of Ireland cathedral in Downpatrick. "So for all of those reasons I wanted to come here today to show that support, that solidarity with Fr John and wish him a very speedy recovery.' Speaking before the mass, Fr Martin Graham said there was a lot of shock at recent events. 'From what we understand [his condition] is comfortable and stable. And that is all we have been told,' said Fr Graham told Good Morning Ulster. 'He is progressing. There is a family grieving as well, there are two daughters, there is a dad, there are grandchildren grieving their grandad. 'It is important for us to remember the Brannigan family in all of this. That they get support, they have the support of the parish as well. 'The mass this morning is going to be a very simple, gentle mass. The bishop will offer it to support people of the town, to support the Brannigan family. 'Downpatrick, like every other town, has its problems. But the level of violence that took place on Sunday really upset the people of Downpatrick. 'That's why, even on Sunday evening, the parishioners themselves came together in St Brigid's Church to pray for an support each other.' On Monday night the family of Mr Brannigan released a statement outlining their sense of loss. Fr Graham added: 'They [the family] were willing to make that statement last night, it was absolutely heart-breaking but also so wonderful that they were able to sit down and compose something, which is so difficult to write at the best of times, but to write that in these circumstances, it was just so beautiful of them. 'Fr Murray would have been really appreciative of it, as they are appreciative of the fact that he is also praying for them.'People went to mass that Sunday morning expecting to say goodbye to him and put their arm around him to say goodbye and I think, please God, he will be able to come back and join them for another mass just where they can be able to show them the love that they have for him.'
