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, 74, was reportedly struck on 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.
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 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.
On Monday morning, investigators were at a house in Marian Park. A red and white scarf, a Liverpool FC flag and also flowers were left at the fence of the property.
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.
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.”
Police described the incident as a “completely shocking and brutal attack”.
A prayer vigil was held at St Brigid’s Church in the town on Sunday night.
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.
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” head 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.
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.”