KIDNAPPED Irish priest Michael Sinnott is in critical condition due to malnutrition and lack of medicine for his heart condition.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs has discounted speculation that kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott has died in captivity.

A massive public rally will be held tomorrow in the Philippines demanding a kidnap gang release an ailing Wexford-born priest snatched almost a fortnight ago.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it has been assured by the Philippine Government that rumours surrounding the fate of kidnapped priest Fr Michael Sinnott have not been verified.

FEARS are growing for the safety of kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott after military authorities in the Philippines yesterday admitted that they do not know for certain where he is.

THE Philippine military said yesterday it knows where a kidnapped elderly Irish priest is being held on a remote southern island and contact had been made with his abductors to get the hostage lifesaving medicine.

THE elderly Irish priest being held hostage in the Philippines is still alive but has become very weak as his health fails, according to a military commander who made contact yesterday with his kidnappers.

Troops and navy gunboats in the Philippines tried to encircle suspected Muslim militants to pressure them into releasing kidnapped priest Michael Sinnott, a military general said today.

An ailing 79-year-old Irish missionary dragged away at gunpoint from his southern Philippine residence is probably in the hands of Muslim militants seeking a ransom, officials said today.