Murdered priest buried in Limerick
Sunday, 20 December 2009 22:58
The funeral of Fr Jeremiah Roche, the priest who was murdered in Kenya earlier this month, has taken place in Limerick.
Fr Roche, 68, and originally from west Limerick, was stabbed to death at his home on the outskirts of Kericho, about 200km west of Nairobi on 10 December.
Kenyan police have arrested one person suspected of being behind the killing of the priest who had been a missionary in the country for more than four decades.
The burglars stole a laptop, mobile phone and an unknown amount of money.
His body was found by parishioners after he failed to appear for a 6am Mass.
Members of his family along with colleague priests travelled to Kenya to bring his body home to his native village of Athea this week.
He was waked at the family home last night and his body was brought to St Bartholomew's Church for his funeral Mass.
He was one of a family of 11 brothers and sisters, all of whom were at his funeral along with members of the Kiltgegan fathers, and the wider community of the west Limerick area of Athea.
He was buried in the nearby Holycross cemetry alongside his parents.
- Nine News: Kathy Halloran, Mid-West Correspondent, reports that the 68-year-old Kiltegan Father was described as a committed missionary who had dedicated his life to the gospel
- Six One News: Kathy Halloran, Mid-West Correspondent, reports that the funeral of Fr Jeremiah Roche, who was killed during a robbery in Kenya has taken place in his native village of Athea
