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"Bishop did not snub Moville"
18.02.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
A LOCAL priest has quashed reports that Bishop
Seamus Hegarty snubbed a post-Confirmation function
in Moville.
It was claimed Dr Hegarty left early before many
local children had the chance to have their pictures
taken with him.
It is understood a number of local parents were
angered after their children were unable to secure a
photograph with Dr. Hegarty following Confirmations
at St. Pius X Church in Moville on Saturday.
After arriving at St. Eugene’s Hall following the
religious ceremony at approximately 12.30pm that
afternoon, the Bishop was driven away from Moville
at 1.40pm.
But Moville parish priest Fr Patrick O’Hagan refuted
claims that the Bishop left earlier than planned.
“I have heard the rumours and they are completely
untrue. I stood beside the Bishop in the hall and I
can confirm that he did not leave a single child
waiting before he left,” he said.
Prior to the event every local child was given a
ticket, drawn at random, to represent the order in
which they were to meet the Bishop before having a
picture taken. |
Fr O’Hagan said he was
informed that a number of parents did not adhere to
the pre-arranged system for photographs.
“I have since been told than a number of people
jumped the queue in the hall,” he said.
The Moville parish priest, who visited some local
schools this week in a bid to clear up the matter,
said that a number of children may have arrived too
late to the St Eugene’s Hall venue and therefore
missed the chance to be snapped with Bishop Hegarty.
“I know that some children didn’t attend |
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Bishop Seamus Hegarty. |
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the function in the
hall because they had family meals booked but it
also seems likely that some, particularly those with
high numbers, may have arrived at the venue after
1.40pm when Bishop Hegarty left. I can confirm that
the Bishop had his picture taken with every child
who was there at the time,” Fr. O’Hagan added. |
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