A man’s death may be linked to a “brutal” attack on a priest hit with a bottle in church, police said.
Father John Murray was reportedly struck to the head by a suspect who asked if he would hear his confession ahead of the Sunday morning service.
Shocked parishioners witnessed Fr Murray assaulted before the assailant left St Patrick’s Church in Downpatrick at about 10.10am.
It was going to be his last Mass before retiring.
Fr Murray was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he remains in a “serious condition”.
Detectives said the attack may be linked to the death of a man at an address in the Marian Park area of Co Down at about 12pm on Sunday.
A 30-year-old male is in police custody on suspicion of murder.
An elderly parishioner, who was in the church when the incident occurred, said he heard women saying that Fr Murray was injured.
He said the women would not let him into the sacristy, the room in a church where a priest prepares for a service, adding: “Then the police arrived - there was commotion, everyone was talking. And then I heard the ambulance arrive.
“It was mayhem in the church. People were aghast at what happened.”
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The parishioner, who said he knows Fr Murray well, described him as a “really brilliant man”.
A prayer vigil was held at St Brigid’s Church in the town on Sunday night.
On Monday morning, the Downpatrick Family of Parishes said: “Canon Murray continues to receive exceptional care.
“He is stable and comfortable.”
They added that St Patrick’s Church and its grounds remained closed.
Superintendent Norman Haslett, district commander for Newry, Mourne and Down, said: “Inquiries are at an early stage and, at this time, we suspect this may be connected to a serious assault in the St Patrick’s Avenue area of Downpatrick on Sunday.”
Detective Chief Inspector David McBurney added: “This was a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury.”
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath described shock and disbelief in Downpatrick following the events of Sunday.
“First of all the community would want to have thoughts and prayers with the family of the deceased individual, and I know that that community in and around the Marian Park area will wrap around them and support them,” he told the BBC.
“Then the shocking nature and the graphic nature of the attack on Father Murray on what was supposed to be the commencement of his retirement, in a public manner and in daylight, exposes an awful lot of vulnerability in that scenario but also more widely, for clergy across Ireland, and other workers in the community, what can happen in the blink of an eye.”
Sinn Fein MP for South Down Chris Hazzard said the attack on the priest and the death of the man in Downpatrick were “deeply shocking”.
