15/01/2008

Ahern Meeting Shot Belfast Priest In South Africa

The Irish leader, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to travel to Atteridgeville Township, near Pretoria, to visit the Leratong Hospice - run by Fr Kieran Creagh from Belfast.

He survived an attack last March when he was shot twice at an Aids hospice he founded in the township, west of Pretoria.

An Irish government spokesperson said: "The hospice is modelled on the work of the Harold's Cross Hospice in Dublin where Fr Creagh worked prior to moving to South Africa," noting that the hospice has received funding from the Irish government since 2002.

Mr Ahern will meet the priest after first spending time with South African President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria this morning, on the second day of his visit to the country.

Mr Ahern will also meet with the Deputy President of the country, Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka and attend meeting to encourage Ireland as a tourism destination and to promote further trade links.

The Taoiseach will attend a seminar hosted by An Bord Bia to promote Irish beef in the wake of the recent reopening of the South African market to Irish beef exports and attend a business lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland to promote Irish-South African trade links.

Enterprise Ireland has organised a trade mission of over 50 companies, including four businesses from Northern Ireland, to coincide with the Taoiseach's visit.

Following the visit to the hospice, the Taoiseach will leave South Africa to head to Tanzania.

(KMcA)(BMcC)


Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 January 2006
PSNI ball raises £26,500 for Hospice Care
The PSNI have today presented a cheque worth £26,500 to Northern Ireland Hospice Care. The money was raised at a Chief Constable's ball event held in October last year in Belfast. Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton made the presentation today, he said: "We are delighted to support Northern Ireland Hospice Care in this way.
20 July 2023
Derry City And Strabane Mayor Announces Chosen Charities
The new Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Patricia Logue, has announced The Foyle Hospice and The Ryan McBride Foundation as her chosen charities for her year in office.
21 June 2001
PRESSURE MOUNTS ON IRA TO DELIVER ON ARMS
THE IRA has come under increasing pressure from the SDLP and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to deliver decommissioning before the end of the month.
25 March 2010
Stepping Out For Hospice Funds
The Northern Ireland Hospice is calling on the public to put a spring in their step and get registered for Hospice Big Walk Week. Boosting the call to register, UTV's Julian Simmons and 'Mrs Walker', Olivia Nash have appealed to the public to support NI's biggest family walking event, now in its 30th year.
17 June 2015
£1.6m Needed To Complete New Hospice
The Northern Ireland Hospice is urgently calling for support to complete its new state-of-the-art dementia-friendly hospice. Work started on the north Belfast Somerton Road project in March 2014, at the cost of £13m and, to date, a total of £11.4m has been secured, however the hospice needs a further £1.6m to finish the project.