Priest who survived South African gun attack to meet Ahern
An Irish priest left for dead by armed burglars will meet the Taoiseach next week in South Africa.
Fr Kieran Creagh, aged 46, from Belfast was shot twice last March when he was attacked at an Aids hospice he founded in Pretoria.
Bertie Ahern is paying a courtesy visit to the Passionist Order priest at the Leratong Hospice on Tuesday during an official visit to South Africa and Tanzania.
The Taoiseach usually undertakes official overseas trips in January when the Dáil is in recess. He has led delegations to India and the Gulf states in previous years.
The Fianna Fáil leader has come under further political pressure since he admitted at the weekend that he will not be able to provide a certificate proving he is tax compliant to the Standards in Public Office (Sipo).
However he insisted that he believes he is tax compliant.
Mr Ahern also strongly criticised the Mahon Tribunal, which will be subject of motions of confidence by the Opposition when the Dail resumes on January 30.
Mr Ahern will be joined on his five-day visit to Africa next week by Minister for Enterprise Micheal Martin and Minister of State for Overseas Development Michael Kitt TD.
The Taoiseach’s itinerary is aimed at promoting business and tourism and also includes visits to Irish Aid projects helping to reduce poverty, inequality and exclusion.
In March 2007, Fr Creagh thought he was answering his front door to a patient when two armed robbers burst past him and knocked him to the ground.
A struggle ensued and one assailant shot hit him in the lung while another bullet ripped through his arm.
Fr Creagh, who volunteered to be injected with a trial HIV vaccine in the past, was named Irish International Personality of the Year in 2004.
In South Africa the Taoiseach will lead a trade mission of up to 50 Irish companies to further develop business links with Ireland.
Mr Ahern will begin the visit on Monday with a meeting with Irish ex-pats and business and political figures in Capetown.
Engagements hosted by Tourism Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are also on the itinerary.
Face-to-face talks with South African Deputy President Mlambo Ngcuka are also scheduled.
Journeying on to Tanzania on Wednesday, the Irish delegation will visit projects funded by Irish Aid and meet Irish missionaries.
Visits are also planned to an HIV/Aids clinic and a NGO specialising in combating gender-based violence.
Mr Ahern will return to Dublin on January 18.
