A man who punched a priest during Mass has been ordered into the care of the probation services for 12 months.
Pensioner Séamus Doherty (66) attacked Fr Michael McKeever at St Colmcille’s church in Glendowan, Churchill, Co Donegal. Doherty had constantly tried to interrupt Mass which was being conducted by Fr McKeever on January 15th, 2011.
Doherty was loud and shouting abuse during the ceremony as he held a bottle of alcohol. He was drunk and refused to leave when approached by some members of the congregation. When Fr McKeever went down to ask Doherty to leave, the priest was punched in the forehead.
Doherty appeared in court in January and Judge Paul Kelly said he was considering taking the accused off the street. “I have heard this man has problems. It may well be better that he is taken off the streets to address these,” the judge said.