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| Shot NI priest undergoes surgery | |
| (1 day later) | |
| A priest from Belfast who is in a South African hospital after being shot has undergone surgery to remove a bullet from his lung. | |
| 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 the family were hopeful he would recover. | |
| "They have repaired his stomach, they have repaired his lung and they have taken the bullet out. He is now on life support," he said. | |
| "They have said he is critical but stable. It is a very worrying time for the whole family. | |
| "My brother and my father are at the hospital, but they haven't seen him yet. His body is too weak after the surgery and obviously after the shooting." | |
| 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' |
| On Thursday, Liam Creagh said the shooting, which took place on Wednesday night, 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 | 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. | 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. |
| Paul Boateng, the UK's most senior diplomat in South Africa, condemned the actions of the robbers. | 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." | "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." |