Funeral of priest killed in Kenya set for Sunday

THE FUNERAL of an Irish priest murdered during a violent robbery in Kenya is expected to take place in Co Limerick next weekend.

The body of Fr Jeremiah Roche will be returned to Ireland on Friday for burial in his home townland of Athea on Sunday, according to a spokesman for his order, the Kiltegan Fathers.

A postmortem was carried out on Fr Roche yesterday, but the results have not yet been released. The 68-year-old missionary was killed in an attack on his home early last Friday, during which a laptop, mobile telephone and some money were stolen.

While most missionaries are buried in their adopted countries, Fr Roche’s body is being returned for burial in Ireland at the request of his family.

On Thursday, a Mass to mark his 40-year service in Kenya is being held near his home in Kericho, about 250km north of Nairobi.

It is then planned to return his body to Ireland via Amsterdam, in time for a funeral at 2pm on Sunday. However, the spokesman warned that these arrangements could change depending on airline schedules.

Police in Kenya have launched a murder investigation and are said to be concentrating their investigation on two suspects.

Kericho lies in the heart of the tea-producing region, which last year experienced violent outbreaks of ethnic violence after elections.

The Kiltegan Fathers’ spokesman said the order was getting “terrific co-operation” from the police. Fr Roche, who is survived by 10 brothers and sisters, was due to retire home to Co Limerick next year.