Latest news with #Downpatrick
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Downpatrick priest attacked before Mass was due to retire this week
A priest who remains in a serious condition in hospital after suffering a ' brutal attack ' before celebrating Mass on Sunday in Co Down was due to retire this week. Canon John Murray was seriously assaulted at St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick after he was asked to hear someone's Confession. He was due to retire on Thursday. The assault is believed to be linked to the death of a father of two, believed to be aged in his 50s, who was found dead at an address in the Marian Park area of Downpatrick at about 12pm. A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. READ MORE Earlier on Sunday, it was reported to police that at about 10.10am, a man walked into St Patrick's Church and hit Fr Murray on the head with a bottle. Fr Eddie McGee, spokesman for the Diocese of Down and Connor, said Fr Murray remains in a serious 'but stable' condition. Fr Murray, who is in his 70s, is 'highly respected and well-liked', he said, adding that it is 'difficult to comprehend that this would happen to a priest'. He said some elderly priests will feel 'very vulnerable'. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Fr McGee said the local community is also feeling 'very vulnerable', noting that the attack took place on Sunday morning as Fr Murray was preparing to celebrate Mass. 'It's very hard to capture just the shock and the horror expressed yesterday by the parishioners and others who experienced this brutal attack on Fr John Murray,' he said, adding that this was compounded by the subsequent fatality. 'This is an absolutely shocking series of events in what is a really historic and beautiful town of Downpatrick, it's very hard to capture how people are experiencing this morning.' Supt Norman Haslett, district commander for Newry, Mourne and Down, said on Sunday that officers suspect the attack may be linked to the subsequent death. A vigil was held locally on Sunday night for both victims at St Brigid's Church, with local SDLP councillor Conor Galbraith saying there was an 'element of fear' locally. 'People are still fearful, but I think the fact that we have an arrest of the suspect who is potentially linked to both incidents, it's taken a wee bit of pressure off I suppose, knowing that someone has been taken off the streets,' he said. Mr Galbraith, who knows the family of the deceased, said they are 'devastated'. 'There's no real words that can describe what I witnessed yesterday,' he said. He described the deceased as a 'quiet man, who kept himself to himself'. 'He got up to do his work and he came home, and that was it. He was very helpful in the community. If people needed something done, he would have been the first person to offer his support,' he said.
BreakingNews.ie
4 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Priest in ‘serious but stable condition' following attack in Downpatrick
A Co Down priest remains in a 'serious but stable' condition in hospital after being subjected to a 'brutal attack' in his church on Sunday. Father John Murray was reportedly struck on the head at St Patrick's Church. Advertisement He was approached by a man who asked if he would hear his confession ahead of the Sunday morning service, and attacked as shocked parishioners arrived for mass. Father Murray had been due to retire later this week. Police have said the attack may be linked to the death of a man in Downpatrick. A 30-year-old man remains in police custody, being questioned on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead at an address in the Marian Park area at about 12pm on Sunday. Advertisement A prayer vigil was held at St Brigid's Church in the town on Sunday night. On Monday morning, the Downpatrick Family of Parishes said, 'Canon Murray continues to receive exceptional care. 'He is stable and comfortable.' They added that S t Patrick's Church and its grounds remained closed. Advertisement SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath described shock and disbelief in Downpatrick following the events of Sunday. 'First of all the community would want to have thoughts and prayers with the family of the deceased individual, and I know that that community in and around the Marian Park area will wrap around them and support them,' he told the BBC. 'Then the shocking nature and the graphic nature of the attack on Father Murray on what was supposed to be the commencement of his retirement, in a public manner and in daylight, exposes an awful lot of vulnerability in that scenario but also more widely, for clergy across Ireland, and other workers in the community, what can happen in the blink of an eye.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Priest in ‘serious but stable condition' following attack in Downpatrick
A Co Down priest remains in a 'serious but stable' condition in hospital after being subjected to a 'brutal attack' in his church on Sunday. Father John Murray was reportedly struck to the head at St Patrick's Church. He was approached by a man who asked if he would hear his confession ahead of the Sunday morning service, and attacked as shocked parishioners arrived for mass. Father Murray had been due to retire later this week. Police have said the attack may be linked to the death of a man in Downpatrick. A 30-year-old man remains in police custody being questioned on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead at an address in the Marian Park area at about 12pm on Sunday. A prayer vigil was held at St Brigid's Church in the town on Sunday night. On Monday morning, the Downpatrick Family of Parishes said: 'Canon Murray continues to receive exceptional care. 'He is stable and comfortable.' They added that St Patrick's Church and its grounds remained closed. SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath described shock and disbelief in Downpatrick following the events of Sunday. 'First of all the community would want to have thoughts and prayers with the family of the deceased individual, and I know that that community in and around the Marian Park area will wrap around them and support them,' he told the BBC. 'Then the shocking nature and the graphic nature of the attack on Father Murray on what was supposed to be the commencement of his retirement, in a public manner and in daylight, exposes an awful lot of vulnerability in that scenario but also more widely, for clergy across Ireland, and other workers in the community, what can happen in the blink of an eye.'
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Priest in ‘serious but stable condition' following attack in Downpatrick
A Co Down priest remains in a 'serious but stable' condition in hospital after being subjected to a 'brutal attack' in his church on Sunday. Father John Murray was reportedly struck to the head at St Patrick's Church. He was approached by a man who asked if he would hear his confession ahead of the Sunday morning service, and attacked as shocked parishioners arrived for mass. Father Murray had been due to retire later this week. Police have said the attack may be linked to the death of a man in Downpatrick. A 30-year-old man remains in police custody being questioned on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead at an address in the Marian Park area at about 12pm on Sunday. A prayer vigil was held at St Brigid's Church in the town on Sunday night. On Monday morning, the Downpatrick Family of Parishes said: 'Canon Murray continues to receive exceptional care. 'He is stable and comfortable.' They added that St Patrick's Church and its grounds remained closed. SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath described shock and disbelief in Downpatrick following the events of Sunday. 'First of all the community would want to have thoughts and prayers with the family of the deceased individual, and I know that that community in and around the Marian Park area will wrap around them and support them,' he told the BBC. 'Then the shocking nature and the graphic nature of the attack on Father Murray on what was supposed to be the commencement of his retirement, in a public manner and in daylight, exposes an awful lot of vulnerability in that scenario but also more widely, for clergy across Ireland, and other workers in the community, what can happen in the blink of an eye.'
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Downpatrick murder inquiry may be linked to 'brutal' attack on priest
A 30-year-old man is still being held on suspicion of murder after a man's death in Downpatrick, that police said might be linked to a "brutal" attack on a priest in a church in the went to a house in Marian Park at about 12:00 BST on Sunday after a report that a body had been found. Police suspect the case might be connected to an attack on a priest, Fr John Murray, in St Patrick's Church in the County Down was hit on the head with a bottle while preparing to celebrate his last Mass before his retirement. Police said he remained in a serious condition in a Belfast hospital. Police said a man walked into the church on St Patrick's Avenue at 10:10 BST on Sunday and hit the priest before Ch Insp McBurney said it "was a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury".The priest was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in of people attended a vigil in Downpatrick's St Brigid's Church on Sunday evening. Fr Martin Graham, who took the service, said it was about being with the parishioners and praying with them, for Fr Murray and also "for the other poor man who lost his life".He said Fr Murray had given the last 11 years of life to the parish and was due to retire on Thursday."He is so well thought of by the people here," he said. "It is just heartbreaking for them in what was supposed to be a poignant farewell this morning that it turned into something which was just grotesque." Supt Norman Haslett said enquiries were at an early stage and at this time, they suspect the Marian Park incident "may be connected to a serious assault in the St Patrick's Avenue area of Downpatrick on Sunday".Speaking about the death in Marian Park, SDLP councillor Conor Galbraith said a family were now in mourning."It is really sad that this has resulted in two daughters left behind, grandchildren left behind," he added."And for what, we just don't know why."
