An Irish Columban priest has been shot dead today in the Philippines.
Fr Rufus Halley (57) was killed while travelling by motorbike from his own parish to a neighbouring parish in the province of Lanao del Sur on the island of Mindanao.
Originally from Killoteran House outside Waterford city, Fr Halley moved to Dealgan Park in Navan, County Meath to become a Columban priest in 1962. He was ordained in 1969 and shortly after volunteered to go to the Philippines.
According to fellow Columban priest, Fr Alo Connaughton, Fr Halley initially went to Manila for 10 years. Twenty years later he chose to go to the southern island.
Fr Connaughton, who was ordained with Fr Halley, had been in contact with him throughout the years and said he thought Christian-Muslim tensions in the area were at the root of his death.
He said Fr Halley "was very much aware of the tensions and dangers" in the region and said this wasn’t the first incidence of trouble Columban priests had faced there. A member of the order was kidnapped in the Philippines in the past, he said.
Sporadically Fr Halley had been invited by some Muslims to mediate and help resolve personal difficulties, said Fr Connaughton and "he was on very good terms with the Muslims".
Fr Connaughton told ireland.comhe was "shocked" to hear of the news but said Fr Halley was "very well aware of the kind of difficulties he would face there".