Murdered Archbishop to be buried today

The Irish archbishop murdered by rebels in the central African State of Burundi will be buried in his hometown of Nenagh, Co Tipperary, today.

Archbishop Michael Courtney was the Pope’s representative in Burundi and died when gunmen sprayed his car with bullets on Monday last.

Over a thousand Burundians paid their last respects outside the cathedral in the capital Bujumbura last Wednesday.

The Archbishop’s body was then flown home and arrived in Ireland on New Year’s Day.

A prayer service held at Dublin Airport yesterday morning was attended by the Taoiseach and Cardinal Desmond Connell.

His coffin was then taken to Loughrea Cathedral in Co Galway where Bishop of Clonfert, John Kirby, celebrated mass last night.

The Tipperary-born man had been closely linked to the peace process in Burundi and in June negotiated the release of hostages kidnapped by the forces for Defence of Democracy.

The Minister for Finance of the central African State of Burundi, Athanase Gahungu, is expected to be among those attending today’s burial.