Irish missionary Maud Kells shot and wounded in Congo

Missionary had received an OBE for her work in Africa over five decades

Maud Kells, a recipient of the OBE,  was shot and wounded at her home in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday night, January 4th, 2015. File photograph: WEC International
Maud Kells, a recipient of the OBE, was shot and wounded at her home in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday night, January 4th, 2015. File photograph: WEC International

A 75-year-old Irish missionary has been shot and wounded at her home in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Maud Kells, who recently received an OBE for her work, was attacked by bandits at her residence in Mulita in the northeast of the country.

She was shot twice in the shoulder and later flown to a hospital in Nyunkunde, DRC, where she is reported to be in a stable condition.

Originally from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, she had trained as a nurse at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital and is working in Africa for the WEC International mission agency.

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Based there since 1968, Ms Kells had originally worked as a nurse and was also involved with training Congolese nurses in numerous hospitals and health centres.

She works in Africa for half the year and returns home for the remainder.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times