Robbers shoot Irish priest who runs South African AIDS hospice

Published: 2007-03-02

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- An Irish priest who runs an AIDS hospice in South Africa has been shot twice in the chest by robbers in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria. Passionist Father Kieran Creagh, 44, was shot in the early morning hours March 1 when he answered the doorbell to his apartment in the back of Leratong Hospice, said Father Sikhalele Anthony Mdhluli, the superior of the Passionists in South Africa. Father Creagh thought someone was summoning him to see a dying patient, but he opened the door to eight men, Father Mdhluli told Catholic News Service March 2. "He refused to let them in and called for help, but the security guard at the hospice had been tied up," Father Mdhluli said. The men fled with money from Father Creagh's safe as well as his mobile phone, television and other electronic equipment, he said. Hospice staff called an ambulance, and Father Creagh is in intensive care in the hospital, Father Mdhluli said. Police are investigating the case, he added.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .