AN IRISH priest was in intensive care yesterday after he was stabbed in the back at his church in north London as he was making cup of tea for a parishioner.
Father Edward Carroll (63), from Newry, was stabbed between his shoulder blades with a six-inch serrated kitchen knife by the parishioner who had come to the Sacred Heart Church, Holloway for help.
A Middlesex hospital spokesman described Father Carroll's condition as "serious but stable" and said he had been taken off a ventilator. Father Carroll was able to crawl to an intercom to summon help. His colleagues found him slumped on the floor with the knife in his back.
A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed last night that a 27-year-old man had rang the police to give himself up and was being questioned at Islington station about the attack.
Staff at the church said the man had appeared upset and had asked for Father Carroll by name. The stabbing is the latest in a series of attacks at the Sacred Heart Church in the last 18 months.
Prayers will be said for the priest today at Ash Wednesday services.
Last week Father Carroll called the police after an attempted break-in and there have been three arson attacks.
The pastoral assistant, Mr Ben Deignan, described Father Carroll as a dedicated priest who had worked at the church for six years.
"These attacks are a fact of life for priests."