Retiring priest was attacked just before celebrating his last mass
A man's body was discovered just hours before a priest was assaulted with a bottle in Downpatrick, Co. Down.
Canon John Murray, 75, who is retiring, was attacked in St Patrick's Church at 10am yesterday just before celebrating his last Mass. St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
A man walked into the church on St Patrick's Avenue and hit the priest on his head with a bottle before fleeing, the PSNI said. Officers had just launched a murder inquiry after a man was earlier found dead in a house in the town. The two incidents are being linked and a man in his 30s has been arrested.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said: 'Detectives from our Major Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Downpatrick. A man aged in his 30s has been arrested.'
Police attended the scene of the body find at Marian Park in the town. The ambulance service said it had been called on Saturday, just before midnight The former Anglican Dean of Down Henry Hull, who regularly held inter-faith services with Fr Murray, said: 'I am absolutely shocked and I know the whole community is stunned. Canon John Murray. Pic: Aid To The Church In Need via X
'I've known Canon Murray for many years and he's obviously a very gracious priest, very much loved in the community.
'He had been suffering from ill health and this was to be his final Mass, his farewell service, so that adds an even greater level of shock and sadness to the event.' Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers and a scene of crime officer (SOCO) outside St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
He said it is 'quite disturbing that such a thing could happen in a church and that it was on his final day', adding: 'The incident was not in any way a reaction to his ministry. There is a strong sense of close community in Downpatrick and this is such a rare occurrence.'
The assault has also shocked local politicians. Alliance Party councillor Cadogan Enright of Newry and Mourne District Council, who lives across the street from Fr Murray, said: 'Fr Murray is a lovely man. He's a scholar, he has published a number of books which have been well received. He is loved here in Downpatrick and wider afield.'
Mr Enright went on to say that Canon Murray has no enemies 'whatsoever' in the locality.
He added: 'He is highly respected around the town. There is an inter-church group where different local churches gather together and pray and he is one of the leaders of that. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) scene of crime officer (SOCO) at a second property near to the scene in the Marian Park area of Downpatrick, Co Down, after a murder investigation was launched into a man's death that police said may be linked to an attack on a priest in the church in Co Down. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
'He would frequently invite Dean Henry Hull to co-celebrate inter-faith services. This assault has shocked everyone in the locality and everyone is baffled as to why anybody would want to assault Fr Murray.
'Downpatrick is 90% Catholic and there is a great community spirit in the area.'
In a statement on social media, Downpatrick Family Of Parishes said: 'Fr Murray is currently receiving medical treatment. We thank you for your prayers and well wishes.'
In a post on Facebook, Kilmore and Killyleagh Parishes in Co. Down asked for people to 'pray for his speedy recovery both physically and emotionally from this frightening incident.'
Police said this was 'a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury'.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service dispatched an emergency ambulance to the incident which took the priest to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Police said the priest remains in a 'serious condition'.
PSNI detectives appealed to members of the public who can offer information in relation to the assault to come forward.
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A 'serious' assault on a priest is being linked to a murder just hours earlier in the same town, police in the North have revealed. A man's body was discovered just hours before a priest was assaulted with a bottle in Downpatrick, Co. Down. Canon John Murray, 75, who is retiring, was attacked in St Patrick's Church at 10am yesterday just before celebrating his last Mass. St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire A man walked into the church on St Patrick's Avenue and hit the priest on his head with a bottle before fleeing, the PSNI said. Officers had just launched a murder inquiry after a man was earlier found dead in a house in the town. The two incidents are being linked and a man in his 30s has been arrested. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said: 'Detectives from our Major Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Downpatrick. A man aged in his 30s has been arrested.' Police attended the scene of the body find at Marian Park in the town. The ambulance service said it had been called on Saturday, just before midnight The former Anglican Dean of Down Henry Hull, who regularly held inter-faith services with Fr Murray, said: 'I am absolutely shocked and I know the whole community is stunned. Canon John Murray. Pic: Aid To The Church In Need via X 'I've known Canon Murray for many years and he's obviously a very gracious priest, very much loved in the community. 'He had been suffering from ill health and this was to be his final Mass, his farewell service, so that adds an even greater level of shock and sadness to the event.' Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers and a scene of crime officer (SOCO) outside St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire He said it is 'quite disturbing that such a thing could happen in a church and that it was on his final day', adding: 'The incident was not in any way a reaction to his ministry. There is a strong sense of close community in Downpatrick and this is such a rare occurrence.' The assault has also shocked local politicians. Alliance Party councillor Cadogan Enright of Newry and Mourne District Council, who lives across the street from Fr Murray, said: 'Fr Murray is a lovely man. He's a scholar, he has published a number of books which have been well received. He is loved here in Downpatrick and wider afield.' Mr Enright went on to say that Canon Murray has no enemies 'whatsoever' in the locality. He added: 'He is highly respected around the town. There is an inter-church group where different local churches gather together and pray and he is one of the leaders of that. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) scene of crime officer (SOCO) at a second property near to the scene in the Marian Park area of Downpatrick, Co Down, after a murder investigation was launched into a man's death that police said may be linked to an attack on a priest in the church in Co Down. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire 'He would frequently invite Dean Henry Hull to co-celebrate inter-faith services. This assault has shocked everyone in the locality and everyone is baffled as to why anybody would want to assault Fr Murray. 'Downpatrick is 90% Catholic and there is a great community spirit in the area.' In a statement on social media, Downpatrick Family Of Parishes said: 'Fr Murray is currently receiving medical treatment. We thank you for your prayers and well wishes.' In a post on Facebook, Kilmore and Killyleagh Parishes in Co. Down asked for people to 'pray for his speedy recovery both physically and emotionally from this frightening incident.' Police said this was 'a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury'. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service dispatched an emergency ambulance to the incident which took the priest to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Police said the priest remains in a 'serious condition'. PSNI detectives appealed to members of the public who can offer information in relation to the assault to come forward.
