by Louise Doyle

THE former Bishop of Raphoe, who has been comforting a community in the wake of the murder of a man and the attempted murder of a priest, has said the shocking incidents have left people “shaken and upset”.

Bishop of Down and Connor Alan McGuckian, SJ has found himself at the centre of an outpouring of community grief since Sunday, when the body of Stephen Brannigan was found at a house in the Marian Park area of Downpatrick.

A few hours prior to the discovery of the body of Mr Brannigan (56), Canon John Murray was brutally attacked with a bottle in the sacristy of St Patrick’s Church in the centre of the town while preparing to celebrate his last Mass before his retirement today. Fr Murray remains in hospital but is now in a stable condition.

Hugh Malone (30) of no fixed abode, Belfast, appeared via video link before Newtownards Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with the murder of Mr Brannigan and the attempted murder of Fr Murray. He has been remanded into custody, and is due to appear again on September 4 in Downpatrick Court.

Bishop McGuckian was appointed by Pope Francis as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor in February of this year, following seven years as Bishop of Raphoe Diocese, where he was highly regarded by his parishioners and the wider community.

Bishop McGuckian provided exceptional support when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

His Mass was broadcast live on RTE online, and many parishioners expressed gratitude for what they called his ‘prayerful leadership’ during the worst of the Covid lockdown, saying it was invaluable, life-giving and, for many, life-saving. He also delivered a homily at Mass for the victims of the Creeslough tragedy.

When we contacted the Bishop’s Office at the Diocese of Down and Connor yesterday, a spokesperson told us that Bishop McGuckian has been “attending back to back meetings” since the shocking incidents, and has been providing pastoral support to those impacted and the wider community.

A large crowd of parishioners attended a special Mass for Fr Murray and Mr Brannigan’s family at St Colmcille’s Church in Downpatrick on Tuesday.

Addressing those who gathered, Bishop McGuckian told of the moment he learned of the shocking incidents.

“There’s so many ways in which hearts can be stirred in moments like this. People carrying what-ifs and what only and so many other things like that. It’s at times like this that we Christians are called to rely totally on the mercy of God. We are invited to have courage and not to fear.

“At a moment like this, when so many people feel a great fear and a great sense of uncertainty, what is going on? What on Earth is happening to us? It is easier said than done, and it is not a once-off. On Sunday, when I heard the news, I was just going to the diocesan pilgrimage in Moneyglass and had to speak about hope – this is the jubilee of hope.”

“The thing that gave me the most consolation on Sunday was when I heard that hundreds of people had gathered spontaneously to pray for Stephen and Fr John; that gives me a sense that in this community there are the resources to really come together and be strong for one another. There are great people in this community.’