Menu
26/03/2008
Priest Prays For Predator
A priest is praying for the man who attacked a woman after prayers in his church.
She was preyed upon in a sexual assault that took place in the grounds of a church in Londonderry.
Police have appealed for help in finding the culprit - a man in his late teens who spoke to victim - striking up a casual conversation with her as she left St Columba's Long Tower Church on Easter Sunday where she had been worshiping.
The assailant then followed her and launched a sexual attack on her outside the church.
Local priest, Father Roland Colhoun from Long Tower said only the woman's presence of mind saved her from a more horrific attack: "She was a very brave girl and very quick-thinking, because she had a very speedy reaction of self-defence.
"She screamed and fought him off by putting her fingers into his eyes and he took to his heels and ran off.
"It could have been quite a serious assault, but because of her quick thinking she drew it to a close very quickly," he said.
Speaking this morning on BBC Radio Ulster, the priest said that while he urged that anyone with information should go to the police, he also revealed that he would also be praying for the sexual predator as well.
This is not the first such incident to shock Derry. Late last year an American student was raped. She was assaulted by her attacker who first forced her to go into a car park outside the Bogside Inn in the city where he raped her.
See: Student Rape Victim Back In USA
(BMcC)
She was preyed upon in a sexual assault that took place in the grounds of a church in Londonderry.
Police have appealed for help in finding the culprit - a man in his late teens who spoke to victim - striking up a casual conversation with her as she left St Columba's Long Tower Church on Easter Sunday where she had been worshiping.
The assailant then followed her and launched a sexual attack on her outside the church.
Local priest, Father Roland Colhoun from Long Tower said only the woman's presence of mind saved her from a more horrific attack: "She was a very brave girl and very quick-thinking, because she had a very speedy reaction of self-defence.
"She screamed and fought him off by putting her fingers into his eyes and he took to his heels and ran off.
"It could have been quite a serious assault, but because of her quick thinking she drew it to a close very quickly," he said.
Speaking this morning on BBC Radio Ulster, the priest said that while he urged that anyone with information should go to the police, he also revealed that he would also be praying for the sexual predator as well.
This is not the first such incident to shock Derry. Late last year an American student was raped. She was assaulted by her attacker who first forced her to go into a car park outside the Bogside Inn in the city where he raped her.
See: Student Rape Victim Back In USA
(BMcC)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
02 September 2013
Belfast Priest Returns To Duty
A west Belfast priest who was at the centre of a police investigation has returned to the ministry. Father Hugh Kennedy stepped down from his duties as administrator of St Peter's Cathedral in 2011. At the time, the Diocese said it referred information about Fr Kennedy to the PSNI in accordance with its child safeguarding procedures.
Belfast Priest Returns To Duty
A west Belfast priest who was at the centre of a police investigation has returned to the ministry. Father Hugh Kennedy stepped down from his duties as administrator of St Peter's Cathedral in 2011. At the time, the Diocese said it referred information about Fr Kennedy to the PSNI in accordance with its child safeguarding procedures.
18 March 2004
Priest condemns church attack
An attack on a Catholic Church in Co Tyrone has been condemned by its Parish Priest. Father Michael Doherty described the incident in which a number of windows were smashed at St Mary's Church in Strabane as "disgraceful". Police are trying to establish a motive for the incident which occurred on Wednesday night.
Priest condemns church attack
An attack on a Catholic Church in Co Tyrone has been condemned by its Parish Priest. Father Michael Doherty described the incident in which a number of windows were smashed at St Mary's Church in Strabane as "disgraceful". Police are trying to establish a motive for the incident which occurred on Wednesday night.
03 May 2017
Man Remanded After Threatening Priest With Knife
A man has been remanded in custody after allegedly threatening a priest with a knife. The male was arrested following the incident at a Catholic church in Carnlough on Sunday, 30 April, according to the PSNI. It is believed the suspect followed the priest into a side room of the church and threatened him with a knife after Mass.
Man Remanded After Threatening Priest With Knife
A man has been remanded in custody after allegedly threatening a priest with a knife. The male was arrested following the incident at a Catholic church in Carnlough on Sunday, 30 April, according to the PSNI. It is believed the suspect followed the priest into a side room of the church and threatened him with a knife after Mass.
13 September 2011
Former Bishop Call For End To Clerical Celibacy
The former Bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly, has claimed that there needs to be a place in the modern Catholic church for a married priesthood and has called for an end to clerical celibacy.
Former Bishop Call For End To Clerical Celibacy
The former Bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly, has claimed that there needs to be a place in the modern Catholic church for a married priesthood and has called for an end to clerical celibacy.
28 June 2019
SF Demand End To 'Damaging' Transfer Tests
Sinn Fein has issued a call for the end of transfer tests in Northern Ireland following a recent report on the detrimental impact the process has on children.
SF Demand End To 'Damaging' Transfer Tests
Sinn Fein has issued a call for the end of transfer tests in Northern Ireland following a recent report on the detrimental impact the process has on children.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
