Murder victim's family heartbroken, says priest

Stephen Brannigan was found dead in a house on Sunday

A prayer service has been held for the family of a man who was murdered and a priest who was attacked in Downpatrick on Sunday.

Police discovered the body of Stephen Brannigan, 56, when they went to a house in Marian Park at about 12:00 BST on Sunday.

Fr John Murray was hit on the head with a bottle while preparing to celebrate his last Mass before retirement at St Patrick's Church.

Police have been granted extra time to question a 30-year-old man who was arrested over the murder as well as on suspicion of the attempted murder of Fr John Murray.

Bishop Alan McGuckian addresses Mass-goers in Downpatrick on Tuesday

The special Mass at St Colmcille's Church on Tuesday was attended by representatives from local clergy, police and politics as well as members of the public.

Speaking at the Mass, Bishop Alan McGuckian said people "feel fear and great uncertainty" but they "needed courage, to not be afraid - something that isn't easy".

Bishop McGuckian said that even in these terrible circumstances that we are shocked and upset we will hear our God saying "courage, do not be afraid".

Fr Maurice Henry offered prayers for Fr Murray's recovery, for the memory of Stephen Brannigan, the support of his family and Marian Park community as well as for the alleged perpetrator.

The bishop greets people leaving Mass in Downpatrick

Speaking after the Mass, Bishop McGuckian said Fr John Murray is "good, strong but gentle man" and what happened "just seems so, so wrong".

He said he thinks of the shock Fr John Murray felt "being at a really vulnerable moment, his mind must have been full of other things he was going to celebrate Mass with his community for the last time".

He added that "the clergy's hearts" go out to all those affected.

Bishop McGuckian said priests deal with "many things and it's sort of extraordinary how they step in to what needs to be done and begin reaching out."

He added that "this community has responded so well" and that has "drawn strength out of the clergy".

Stephen Brannigan was found at Marian Park on Sunday

Fr Martin Graham, who was involved in putting the Mass together, said the "very simple, gentle Mass" was to "support the people of the town, to support the Brannigan family".

"The Bishop just wants to be with the people of the town just to let them know that he and so many other people are praying and supporting the people of the town," Fr Graham told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"Fr Murray is such a central figure in Downpatrick and in the diocese you know, so many of us have known him for many years.

"He was fortunate, he is comfortable in hospital, he is progressing and there is a family grieving, there are two daughters grieving their dad, there's grandchildren grieving their grandad.

"And it's important for us as well the Brannigan family in all of this that they have the support of the parish and for them to make that statement last night, it was just absolutely heartbreaking."

Fr Graham said he expects that St Patrick's Church will reopen for Masses once cleaning has taken place.

Fr Graham was involved in putting the special Mass together

Nuala McCartan attended the special Mass on Tuesday and said the community and the town is in "shock".

Ms McCartan said she lives close to Stephen Brannigan's family and described them as the "heart of corn".

"The feeling is just numb, the town's numb, Canon Murray is an absolute gentleman, a lovely man and so was Stephen, Stephen's family are the heart of corn.

She said the community will "be together, we're all together and everybody's pulling together and this means so much (the special Mass) this morning, so much for the family and we're just here."

Nuala McCartan says the community is 'numb'

'Dearly beloved' husband

In a statement on Monday, the family of Mr Brannigan said he was known among his neighbours and friends as someone who was always willing to help out and "ready to do whatever needed to be done for the good of others".

The day before he died, he was tending to friends' graves while visiting the grave of his late wife, Dorenda, "as he did, almost every day".

Mr Brannigan was remembered as a "dearly beloved" husband, a "much loved" father of two daughters and a "loving grandfather" of six in his death notice.

He "faced many difficult issues in his life", according to his family.

The family also thanked "those who have surrounded us with such love and care" since Mr Brannigan's death.

On Monday, Bishop McGuckian, who visited the senior priest in hospital, said Fr Murray would make "a good recovery" and he was grateful for prayers from the public.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for treatment.

Fr Murray has served the diocese for 50 years and was scheduled to retire next weekend.

He had been celebrating his last Mass before he stepped down.

The bishop said "a very special moment was just shattered".

Fr John Murray was attacked prior to celebrating his last Mass on Sunday

Police are appealing to anyone who was in the St Patrick's Avenue area of Downpatrick between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on Sunday, or the Marian Park area between 00:00 and 12:00 on Sunday, to come forward.