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 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 was 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 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.

Detectives have issued a new appeal for information about the two incidents.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson said: “On Sunday morning, 10 August, 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.”

The detective added: “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.

“Officers attended along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

“Sadly, the man, who is aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Following initial enquiries, a murder investigation was launched, and a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

“He has also been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and remains in custody at this time.”

Mr Robinson said: “Our investigations into both the murder and attempted murder are at the early stages.

“While I can confirm that one line of enquiry is that the two are connected, I would reiterate that our enquiries 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.”

Superintendent Norman Haslett, the district commander for Newry, Mourne and Down said the community had been “left shaken by the tragic events of the weekend”.

He said: “For a man to be murdered and a priest to be attacked in the sanctity of his own church, these are appalling acts and I understand that many people will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with both grief and shock.

“I want to reassure the local community that there is no ongoing risk to the public and you will see an increased visible police presence in the area over the next few days.”

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.

On Monday morning, investigators were at a house in Marian Park. A red and white scarf, a Liverpool FC flag and flowers were left at the fence of the property.

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.”