Priest left with 'serious head injury' after attack in County Down

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BBC St Patrick’s Church in Downpatrick. It is an old brown building with a large brown door. Two PSNI officers are stood in front of the door with the backs to the camera. The sky is overcast.

A priest is being treated in hospital for a "serious head injury" after being hit with a bottle in Downpatrick.

He was attacked in St Patrick's Church prior to a Mass service at about 10:10 BST on Sunday.

Police said that a man walked into the church on St Patrick's Avenue and hit the priest on his head with a bottle before leaving.

In a statement on social media, Downpatrick Family Of Parishes said: "Fr Murray is currently receiving medical treatment. We thank you for your prayers and well wishes."

St Patrick’s Church in Downpatrick. There is a black car parked in front of it. The church is a large brown building, with a circular window in the front. The sky is overcast.

Det Ch Insp McBurney said: "This was a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury."

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) despatched an emergency ambulance to the incident which took the priest to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Belfast.

Police said the priest remains in a "serious condition".

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