A priest suffered broken teeth after he was smashed
in the face with a hammer by robbers who then locked him in the bathroom
of his parochial house.
Fr Dermot Maloney required hospital and dental treatment after he was attacked by the gang in Jonesborough, Newry.
He sustained facial injuries including a split lip and damage to his teeth.
At
around 11.30pm on Wednesday the priest discovered three youths in the
office before they assaulted him and left him locked in a bathroom.
They made off with his wallet containing a small sum of cash.
The priest managed to escape from the bathroom by climbing from a window.
Fr Maloney was too distressed to comment.