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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| NI priest is shot in Johannesburg | NI priest is shot in Johannesburg |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A missionary priest originally from Belfast is recovering in a South African hospital after being shot. | |
| Father Kieran Creagh was attacked by robbers at the hospice he founded to help Aids sufferers in Johannesburg. | Father Kieran Creagh was attacked by robbers at the hospice he founded to help Aids sufferers in Johannesburg. |
| Fr Creagh's brother Liam said two men overpowered guards and shot him twice - one bullet becoming lodged in his lung. | Fr Creagh's brother Liam said two men overpowered guards and shot him twice - one bullet becoming lodged in his lung. |
| The priest, who was the first person in Africa to be injected with a trial HIV vaccine, was made Irish International Personality of the Year in 2004. | The priest, who was the first person in Africa to be injected with a trial HIV vaccine, was made Irish International Personality of the Year in 2004. |
| He received the award after volunteering to try out the vaccine, despite being free from the virus himself. | He received the award after volunteering to try out the vaccine, despite being free from the virus himself. |
| He has worked with Aids patients in the country for a decade and opened the Leratong hospice in 2004. | He has worked with Aids patients in the country for a decade and opened the Leratong hospice in 2004. |
| 'Bit of a struggle' | 'Bit of a struggle' |
| Liam Creagh said the shooting had been a traumatic experience. | Liam Creagh said the shooting had been a traumatic experience. |
| "Two men came in and they overpowered the guards," he said. | "Two men came in and they overpowered the guards," he said. |
| This was a horrific and cowardly attack on a man of God Paul BoatengBritish high commissioner | |
| "They went up to the apartment where he stays at the hospice and they rang the bell. | "They went up to the apartment where he stays at the hospice and they rang the bell. |
| "He thought it was a patient coming to get him. He opened the door and I think there was a bit of a struggle." | "He thought it was a patient coming to get him. He opened the door and I think there was a bit of a struggle." |
| He said the men fired at least two shots. | He said the men fired at least two shots. |
| "One shot hit him in one of his lungs - and it is lodged there - and the other shot went through his arm." | "One shot hit him in one of his lungs - and it is lodged there - and the other shot went through his arm." |
| Other reports suggested up to 14 men broke into the hospice. | Other reports suggested up to 14 men broke into the hospice. |
| Police told the Associated Press the robbers, who have not been caught, escaped with money from the hospice safe and the priest's mobile phone. | |
| 'Cowardly attack' | |
| Paul Boateng, the UK's most senior diplomat in South Africa, condemned the actions of the robbers. | |
| "This was a horrific and cowardly attack on a man of God who has devoted his life to the service of the poor and needy." | |
| The high commissioner added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family and colleagues at this sad time." | |
| Fr Martin Coffey, of the Passionist Order to which Fr Creagh belongs, described his colleague as a very courageous priest. | |
| "I'm sure his own people there are shocked and disappointed that something like this could happen to such a committed man," he said. |