THE FRANCISCAN Brothers in Ireland have asked the Kenyan authorities to investigate the death of one of their members, who was shot by police on Tuesday.
Brother James Mungovan, the order's superior general in Ireland, said last night he bdieved there may be some substance to allegations that the police acted recklessly.
Brother Larry Timmons called the police after a gang of 15 men had broken into his house in Njora town in Rift Valley Province. Colleagues of Brother Timmons said the men were armed with axes, bush knives and clubs and tried to steal a school vehicle. Brother Timmons was forced to help them start the vehicle, according to colleagues.
Two armed policemen rushed to the house and Brother Timmons (48), was shot in the stomach and shoulder when they ignored his pleas to stop shooting, the colleagues said.
The robbers hacked a watchman to death and escaped with 97,000 Kenyan shillings (about £1100), and other belongings from Brother Timmons's house. A colleague, Brother Tony Dolan, told Agence France Presse that the police behaviour was "senseless and stupid".
Brother Mungovan said last night there was some suggestion the raid was over by the time the policemen arrived, but he was awaiting further clarification from Kenya.
The Archbishop of Nairobi, Dr Ndingi Mwanaa Nzeki, has called on the Kenyan government to ensure that those responsible for Brother Timmons's death are punished.
Brother Sylvester, of the order's house in Clara, Co Offaly, said Brother Timmons will be buried there after 11 o'clock Mass in the parish church on Tuesday. His remains will arrive in Dublin Airport on Sunday. He will be brought privately to Clara on Sunday evening and the removal to the parish church will be at 6.30 on Monday evening.
Brother Timmons, who is from Devlin, Co Westmeath, was based in Clara before before leaving for the mission in Kenya in 1982.