An Irish priest working with survivors of HIV/Aids in South Africa was being treated for gunshot wounds in a Pretoria hospital yesterday after an apparent botched robbery at his home.
Fr Kieran Creagh (43), who gained worldwide attention for his role in helping to develop an experimental Aids vaccine, was shot twice by raiders who broke into the hospice where he works in Atteridgeville West, a deprived township area.
The Belfast-born Passionist priest, who is a former ESB/Rehab International Person of the Year, remained in intensive care last night where his condition was described as stable.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen and Minister for Health Mary Harney are among the dignitaries who have visited the hospice in recent years. The facility is part-funded by the Government through Irish Aid, and is also supported by various private donors in Ireland.
The shooting happened at about 11 pm on Wednesday when between eight and nine men broke into the hospice, 20 kilometres west of Pretoria.
After tying up a security guard, the raiders sounded a call-bell normally used to alert Fr Creagh to medical emergencies during the night. According to staff, the priest was shot as he emerged from his living quarters.
Despite the injury, Fr Creagh managed to flee but he was hit again from behind.
A third shot was heard but the bullet apparently missed the priest, who then limped into the hospice kitchen, locking the door behind him.
Staff said Fr Creagh then made his way to a balcony where he called for help to a neighbour who was living in a shack across the road. The priest was treated at the scene by a local doctor, and later taken by ambulance to Pretoria.
Fr Creagh's mobile phone and a DVD-player were taken in the raid.
Hospice matron Remigia Tloubatla said when she arrived at the scene, a short time after the shooting, the priest was bleeding heavily. But, she said, "he stayed conscious and kept talking to us." Staff fought back tears to say prayers for him yesterday amid signs of the night's drama. A spent bullet cartridge had been found in the normally-tranquil courtyard - designed as a place of relaxation for the centre's terminally-ill patients.
"We're shocked. It's so sad that people would attack a place like this," said Ms Tloubatla, who visited Dublin two years ago for a training programme that had been arranged by Fr Creagh.
The hospice, known as Leratong, or "place of love", was opened by the Irishman in July 2004 to cater primarily for people suffering from HIV/Aids who had been left to die in horrendous conditions and without nursing support.
As well as treating hundreds of locals each year, the centre has become a role-model for palliative care in South Africa, attracting numerous awards.