RC priest beaten and robbed

The parish priest of the Tortuga RC church was beaten and robbed of valuables including the church's SUV early this morning.

Around 1.30 am Fr Jose Marie Thekkekute was at the presbytery when three men with guns entered the building and demanded the items.

The 66-year-old priest was beaten and hands tied while the thieves ransacked the presbytery.

They stole cash and alcoholic beverages that remained from the annual fund-raiser bazaar, hosted at the church yesterday. They escaped in the stolen SUV.

Fr Jose Marie is an Indian national who was sent to the Tortuga parish a few years ago.

PC Maraj is continuing investigations.