PacemakerA 30-year-old man is still being held on suspicion of murder after a man’s death in Downpatrick, that police said might be linked to a “brutal” attack on a priest in a church in the town.
Officers went to a house in Marian Park at about 12:00 BST on Sunday after a report that a body had been found.
Police suspect the case might be connected to an attack on a priest, Fr John Murray, in St Patrick’s Church in the County Down town.
He was hit on the head with a bottle while preparing to celebrate his last Mass before his retirement. Police said he remained in a serious condition in a Belfast hospital.
Police said a man walked into the church on St Patrick’s Avenue at 10:10 BST on Sunday and hit the priest before leaving.
Det Ch Insp McBurney said it “was a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury”.
The priest was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil in Downpatrick’s St Brigid’s Church on Sunday evening.
Fr Martin Graham, who took the service, said it was about being with the parishioners and praying with them, for Fr Murray and also “for the other poor man who lost his life”.
He said Fr Murray had given the last 11 years of life to the parish and was due to retire on Thursday.
“He is so well thought of by the people here,” he said. “It is just heartbreaking for them in what was supposed to be a poignant farewell this morning that it turned into something which was just grotesque.”
Supt Norman Haslett said enquiries were at an early stage and at this time, they suspect the Marian Park incident “may be connected to a serious assault in the St Patrick’s Avenue area of Downpatrick on Sunday”.
Speaking about the death in Marian Park, SDLP councillor Conor Galbraith said a family were now in mourning.
“It is really sad that this has resulted in two daughters left behind, grandchildren left behind,” he added.
“And for what, we just don’t know why.”
