Man who attacked praying Scots priest with bottle in church dies in jail

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A man who brutally attacked a Scots priest with a glass bottle as he prayed in Edinburgh's St Mary's Cathedral has died in jail.Father Jamie McMorrin was kneeling for morning prayers on July 26, 2021 at the York Place church when he was beaten with the item around the body by Jason Irvine who was under the influence of alcohol.Edinburgh Live reports that Irvine, 34, has since died behind bars at HMP Edinburgh on Wednesday, February 21, after being remanded at the city's sheriff court in 2024.Police Scotland has been advised and a Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held in due course with his cause of death currently unclear.Irvine had beaten Fr McMorrin with the bottle and chased him through the cathedral during the rampage.The priest was put in a headlock but was able to grab a wooden chair and fight off Irvine who was forced to drop the bottle and flee.Irvine then headed to the capital’s East Princes Street Gardens where he assaulted a 16-year-old girl who was picked up by police.

The thug then went to his home in Cumbria and was arrested by police.Irvine pleaded guilty to assaulting Fr McMorrin aggravated by religious prejudice, and to assaulting the teenage girl when he appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in 2022.The sheriff sentenced Irvine to a 27 month jail term.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: "Jason Irvine, 34, a prisoner at HMP Edinburgh has died on 21 February 2024."He was remanded at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in 2024.

Police Scotland have been advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held in due course." Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.