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Priest tells of knife ordeal at Mass

Fr Dermot McKay is parish priest in Carnlough, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm O'Reilly
Fr Dermot McKay is parish priest in Carnlough, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm O'Reilly Fr Dermot McKay is parish priest in Carnlough, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm O'Reilly

A PRIEST has spoken of the moment he was allegedly confronted by a man with a knife following Sunday Mass.

Fr Dermot McKay was unharmed during the incident at St John the Evangelist Church in the village of Carnlough, Co Antrim.

A man is alleged to have followed the cleric into a side room after morning Mass and threatened him with a knife.

Speaking to The Irish News, Fr McKay told how a member of the congregation contacted police while other parishioners intervened.

"It happened so quickly really that I didn't have a chance to be scared, but it certainly wasn't something you would expect to experience on a Sunday," he said.

"The whole ordeal lasted maybe 10 minutes, but it honestly felt a lot longer than that.

"There were members of the congregation around, including young people, so it was very fortunate that no-one got hurt - it really could have been a lot worse."

A 41-year-old man, Seamus Peter Murdock, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Monday charged with possessing an article with a blade or point in a public place, threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon with intent.

The accused, of Whitehill Road in Carnlough, is due to appear in the court again today via video link from Maghaberry prison.