An Irish priest has been killed, during what is believed to have been a violent robbery in Kenya.
68-year-old Jeremiah Roche, a member of the Kiltegan Fathers, was killed overnight in Kericho in the northwest of the country.
Fr Roche was attacked in the 'middle of the night' during a burglary in his own home in an area on the edge of the town of Kericho.
Originally from west Limerick, Fr Roche was the only Catholic priest in the parish, where he had just finished building a church.
He was ordained in 1968 and spent most of his ministry in Kenya, leaving only for a few brief stints in Ireland, the United States and Great Britain on missionary promotion work.
The Kenyan police have launched a murder investigation.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mícheál Martin, said he was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Fr Roche
The Department of Foreign Affairs say they are in close contact with the Kenyan authorities to ensure a full investigation is carried out and that every effort is made to apprehend Fr Roche's attackers.
President Mary McAleese said 'Our thoughts and prayers are especially with the Roche family as they face this sad loss and tragic news.'
