Priest recovering after brutal presbytery attack

A KERRY priest was yesterday said to be recovering slowly, following a brutal assault outside his rural presbytery on Sunday night.

Fr Michael O’Leary, parish priest of Ballymacelligott, sustained serious head and hand injuries after being set upon by a man after he stepped from his car on returning from the annual parish bazaar.

The 67-year-old cleric is understood to have had more than 60 stitches inserted in head and hand wounds and his condition remains comfortable in Kerry General Hospital, Tralee.

Gardaí believe he was lucky to escape with his life. Robbery is believed to have been the motive but Fr O’Leary had no money in his possession when attacked.

The bazaar proceeds had been taken by a member of the organising committee.

Fr O’Leary lost a considerable amount of blood and had bones broken.

Gardaí said a bladed weapon was used.

Supt Pat Sullivan, Tralee, said the public had given a lot of assistance so far, but he believed some people who may have seen, or heard, something suspicious had yet to come forward.

Meanwhile, the second night of the parish bazaar went ahead as planned, on Monday night, as Fr O’Leary lay in hospital.

“We know that’s the way he’d want it,” one of the organisers, Mossie Crowley, said yesterday.

“He is the backbone of the parish and always strives for perfection. He runs the parish very efficiently. Everyone here is very shocked by what happened to him. We all feel bad about it.”