Irish missionary priest shot in both feet by gang in Peru
An elderly Irish priest is recovering in hospital after being shot in both feet by a gang who followed him to his home in a Peru slum.
According to the Irish Sun, police believe Fr Gerry Desmond, 70, was followed after withdrawing over €1,700 in the country's capital, Lima.
The Columban missionary was shot at when he refused to hand over his cash. A police spokesman said: 'The victim was in civilian clothes and it appears was returning from a bank. The thieves hit him on the head and then shot him in order to take the money.'
Fr Desmond – who is known locally as Padre Gerardo – was rushed to hospital while police began investigating and searching for the gang. Forensics examining the scene of the crime found two bullet holes in his front door, the Irish Sun reported.
The priest is said to be stable and he is expected to be released from hospital soon.
The attack was reportedly carried out in broad daylight at around 10am on Saturday in one of the poorest areas of the San Juan de Lurigancho slum.
Fr Desmond, who was previously based in Canada, has been working in Peru for over a decade and has worked to get a primary school finally established in the slum in 2011 after years of campaigning.
The Peruvian diocese of Chosica said in a statement: 'Padre Gerardo Desmond...was held up by three armed men.
'After following him to his front door, they surrounded him, hit him on the head and shot him in the feet to rob him of all he had with him.
'Fr Gerardo is out of danger but on the orders of his St Columban's superior, will be transferred to the Cayetano Heredia clinic. We pray to Our Lord for the swift physical and emotional recovery of our beloved Fr Desmond.'
Parishioners also posted messages on social media expressing their relief that Fr Desmond survived the incident.
One, Margarita Morales Flores, wrote: 'Padre Gerardo, you are strong and you will recover. I send you all my love and much strength from Barcelona. We have much affection for you.'
Another, Isabel Rodriguez, said: 'God listened to our prayers, our beloved priest is out of danger. We're very happy.'
