Statue commemorates priest murdered in Africa

HUNDREDS gathered in a Co Limerick village yesterday in a poignant tribute to a priest who dedicated his life to the poor in Africa and was murdered months before he was due to retire in his native Athea.

A 2m-high bronze statue of missionary Fr Jerry Roche was unveiled by Arts and Culture Minister Jimmy Deenihan in the grounds of St Bartholomew’s church.

Fr Roche, 68, worked with the Kiltegan Fathers in Africa for 41 years. He was attacked when a number of men broke into his home near Kericho, Kenya, to steal items including his mobile phone.

Sculpted by Valentia Island artist Alan Ryan Hall, the statue depicts Fr Roche holding a Bible.

Mike Woulfe, who headed the local committee which decided to honour Fr Roche, helped build an orphanage in Bangladesh in 1982 when he worked as a cabin crew manager on British Airways long-haul flights.

“Along with colleagues in British Airways we funded the project and some of the children we took in at the start now help run the orphanage which caters for over 120 children. Fr Jerry dedicated his life to giving to the poor in Africa and it was great to be part of this wonderful tribute to him here in his own place today. His dream was to retire here and enjoy the music, chat and craic and go to football and hurling matches. Tragically that was not to be.”

Fr Roche was murdered in December 2009 and last September three men were sentenced to death for the killing.