A 19-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested over the attempted murder of a 71-year-old Catholic priest.
Father Michael Ingwell, the parish priest of St Marie's Church in Halifax, was stabbed and seriously injured after he confronted burglars at his home in Clarence Street late on Monday.
He was taken to Calderdale Royal Infirmary where his condition was described as serious, but stable.
Three women, all in their 20s and from the Halifax area, were arrested but released without charge last night.
Father Ingwell was ordained in 1959 and has served parishes including St Aidan's Church at Mirfield and St Joseph's Church, Batley Carr.
A colleague, Sean Leonard, of St Patrick's in Elland, spoke of his shock. He said that Father Michael had also had his car stolen and torched in the attack. He added: "We are subjected to attacks nowadays. None of us is safe."
The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Rev Arthur Roche, who visited the victim in hospital, said: "It was a particularly savage attack.
He was fortunate he was able to raise the alarm himself by getting to a phone."
