A priest is being treated at the hospital for “severe head injury” after hitting a bottle in Downpatric.
On Sunday, he was attacked at St. Patrick’s Church before a collective service at around 10:10 BST.
Police said that a person went to the church on the Avenue of St. Patrick and hit the priest on his head with a bottle before leaving.
In a statement on social media, the Downpatric family of parganas said: “F. Murray is currently receiving medical treatment. We thank you for your prayers and best wishes.”
DET C isple McBurney said: “It was a completely shocking and cruel attack and left the priest with a severe head injury.”
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) removed an emergency ambulance for the event, which took the priest to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) at Belfast.
Police said the priest lives in “critical condition”.
