No bail for two men accused of shooting

Two men charged in South Africa with the robbery and attempted murder of Irish priest Fr Kieran Creagh have been remanded in …

Two men charged in South Africa with the robbery and attempted murder of Irish priest Fr Kieran Creagh have been remanded in custody until the end of the month.

The two were due to appear in court in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, on Friday for a bail hearing but this has been rescheduled for April 30th.

Members of the Leratong Hospice, where Fr Creagh was shot and seriously injured in a raid on February 28th, gathered outside the courthouse, calling for bail to be denied to the accused.

The staff were joined by other members of the local community who carried placards bearing slogans such as "Justice for Fr Kieran".

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Tshidi Lekganyane, deputy matron at Leratong, said the hospice was greatly encouraged by the support it had received from the local community. "People in the area were very upset by what happened."

The two accused were arrested during a separate armed robbery in Pretoria recently. Police detectives linked bullet cartridges found at the raid to those used in the attack on Fr Creagh.

Up to nine men broke into the hospice during the February raid, opening fire on the Irish priest after a brief struggle.

Fr Creagh, who has gained international acclaim for his work with HIV/Aids victims in South Africa, flew to Ireland over Easter to his family's Belfast home where he is now recovering from his injuries.