A priest has been left in a "serious condition" after a man who walked into church before mass attacked him with a bottle.

Fr John Murray was horrifically struck on the head at his St Patrick’s Church in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland , earlier today. The priest was rushed to hospital for a head injury and is in a "serious condition".

Father Murray was hit with the bottle at around 10.10am on Sunday, by a man who entered the church in the small town in County Down.

The priest had been preparing for what would have been one of his last masses in church before retiring. He was reportedly attacked in the church’s sacristy before Mass, according to BelfastLive .

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "It was reported to police at around 10.10am on Sunday, 10th August that a man had walked in

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