Rebels abduct Christian Brother

An Irish Christian Brother, Brother Noel Bradshaw (49), is believed to have been taken hostage by rebels in Sierra Leone

An Irish Christian Brother, Brother Noel Bradshaw (49), is believed to have been taken hostage by rebels in Sierra Leone. A native of Lea, Portarlington, Co Laois, he had been working in Makeni mission about 100 miles from the capital, Freetown, for more than 10 years.

He lived in a leper colony and taught war victims. He is believed to have been abducted in late February with an Italian and a Sierra Leonean priest. His brother Hugh told The Irish Times he only learned of the disappearance last night.