Latest news with #MarianPark
BBC News
12-08-2025
- BBC News
Downpatrick: Mass held for murdered man and attacked priest
A prayer service has been held for the family of a man in his 50s who was murdered and a priest who was attacked in Downpatrick on discovered Stephen Brannigan's body when they went to a house in Marian Park at about 12:00 BST on Sunday after a report that a body had been John Murray was hit on the head with a bottle while preparing to celebrate his last Mass before retirement at St Patrick's Church.A 30-year-old man has been arrested over the murder as well as on suspicion of the attempted murder of Fr John Murray. He remains in custody. The special Mass at St Colmcille's Church on Tuesday was attended by representatives from local clergy, police and politics as well as members of the at the Mass, Bishop Alan McGuckian said people needed courage, to not be afraid - something that isn't McGuckian said that even in these terrible circumstances that we are shocked and upset we will hear our God saying "courage, do not be afraid".Fr Maurice Henry offered prayers for Fr Murray's recovery, for the memory of Stephen Brannigan, the support of his family and Marian Park community as well as for the alleged perpetrator Fr Martin Graham, who was involved in putting the special Mass together, said the "very simple, gentle mass" on Tuesday was to "support the people of the town, to support the Brannigan family"."The Bishop just wants to be with the people of the town just to let them know that he and so many other people are praying and supporting the people of the town," Fr Graham told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme."Fr Murray is such a central figure in Downpatrick and in the diocese you know, so many of us have known him for many years. "He was fortunate, he is comfortable in hospital, he is progressing and there is a family grieving, there are two daughters grieving their dad, there's grandchildren grieving their grandad, and it's important for us as well the Brannigan family in all of this," he said."That they have the support of the parish as well and for them to make that statement last night, it was just absolutely heart-breaking."Fr Graham said he expects that St Patrick's Church will reopen for Masses once cleaning has taken place. 'Dearly beloved' husband In a statement on Monday, the family of Mr Brannigan said he was known among his neighbours and friends as someone who was always willing to help out and "ready to do whatever needed to be done for the good of others".The day before he died, he was tending to friends' graves while visiting the grave of his late wife, Dorenda, "as he did, almost every day".Mr Brannigan is remembered as a "dearly beloved" husband, a "much loved" father of two daughters and a "loving grandfather" of six in his death "faced many difficult issues in his life", according to his family also thanked "those who have surrounded us with such love and care" since Mr Brannigan's death. On Monday, Bishop McGuckian, who visited the senior priest in hospital, said Fr Murray will make "a good recovery" and he is grateful for prayers from the was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for Murray has served the diocese for 50 years and was scheduled to retire next bishop said "a very special moment was just shattered". Police are appealing to anyone who was in the St Patrick's Avenue area of Downpatrick between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on Sunday, or the Marian Park area between 00:00 and 12:00 on Sunday, to come forward.
Telegraph
11-08-2025
- Telegraph
Attacker asked priest if he would hear his confession before assault
Det Chief Insp Gary Robinson said: 'On Sunday morning, Aug 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. 'While attending this serious assault, at around midday, police received a report of the death of a man at an address in the Marian Park area... sadly, the man, who is aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.' Police confirmed a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, as well as on suspicion of attempted murder, and remains in custody. Det Chief Insp Robinson said: 'Our investigations into both the murder and attempted murder are at the early stages. 'While I can confirm that one line of inquiry is that the two are connected, I would reiterate that our inquiries are ongoing in an effort to establish the facts surrounding both incidents. 'I am keen to appeal to anyone who was in the St Patrick's Avenue area of Downpatrick between 9am and 11am on Sunday, or the Marian Park area between 12 midnight and 12 noon on Sunday, and saw or heard anything untoward, to please come forward and speak to us. 'Any detail, no matter how small, could be of vital importance to our investigation. I would ask anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam footage to contact us on 101, quoting reference 713 of 10/08/25.' Prayers are to be offered for both the Brannigan family and Fr Murray at a service led by Bishop Alan McGuckian in St Colmcille's Church in Downpatrick on Tuesday morning.
BBC News
11-08-2025
- BBC News
Downpatrick: Murdered man Stephen Brannigan was 'much loved'
The man who was murdered in Downpatrick, County Down, on Sunday has been remembered as a much loved father and a loving grandfather. He has been named as Stephen Brannigan. Officers went to a house in Marian Park at about 12:00 BST on Sunday after a report a body had been found.A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of suspect the case might be connected to an attack on a priest, Fr John Murray, in St Patrick's Church in the town. In a death notice, Mr Brannigan was remembered as a "dearly beloved" father, a "much loved" father of two daughters and a "loving grandfather" of six. Marian Park is a small housing estate high above Downpatrick, just off Saul Street and overlooking the playing fields at the Lecale Trinity school. On Monday, the outer police cordon was removed but at the top of the estate a police presence remained around the home where Mr Brannigan was found dead. Speaking to BBC News NI on Monday, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor Conor Galbraith said the victim was a local painter and decorator. "He was always just known as a quiet lad up in the Marion Park area and always willing to help out whenever the neighbours needed it," he said. He met the victim's two daughters on Sunday and described them as "totally, totally devastated". Hundreds of people attended a vigil in St Brigid's Church in Downpatrick on Sunday evening."That seemed to bring the community together to give them the opportunity to support one another as well," he said. "It was just really nice to see the community come together after such terrible incidents yesterday." Bishop Alan McGuckian said he has not spoken to the Brannigan family yet, but added the local clergy is "looking out for them". "I hope to go to Downpatrick tomorrow, to see the family of Stephen Brannigan," Bishop McGuckian told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme. "I am going to say mass with the community and reach out to the family and to everyone who is so shocked by what has happened."
BreakingNews.ie
11-08-2025
- 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
11-08-2025
- 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.'
