TWELVE PEOPLE TAKING part in the annual Reek Sunday Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo have been injured today, with two people sustaining serious injuries.

A spokesperson for Mayo Mountain rescue told TheJournal.ie that the majority of the people hurt sustained lower leg injuries.

One woman in her 50s, who was seriously injured, had lacerations to her head and was rescued from close to the summit at 7.30am. A man, also in his 50s, is thought to have had a serious cardiac arrest and was attended to by the Order of Malta at about 10.30 this morning.

Both casualties were taken by helicopter to Mayo General Hospital. Mayo Mountain Rescue will maintain a presence until about 8pm tonight to attend to any further casualties.

This year’s pilgrammage is led by Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, accompanied by Archbishop Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. The bishops began their climb on this morning at 7am.

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