I believe in a ‘merciful God’ says Seán O’Rourke

Famous Irish presenter Seán O’Rourke said his Faith is important to him and that he believes in the hereafter, including Hell.

Speaking to Ivan Yates, Mr O’Rourke explained that both his parents were “practising Catholics and quite devout”.

O’Rourke went to Mass every weekend during college and still believes Faith is an important part of his life.

“I’m not manic about it,” he said, “but it is important, and I do believe in the hereafter.”

O’Rourke said that he still believes in a connection with those who have passed on: “I would occasionally say to my parents ‘help us sort this’, by way of an intercessory prayer.

“I do believe they’re in Heaven and an awful lot of other people.”

He said that he went through phases when he believed in it more straightforwardly than others.

“I’ll always remember when Veronica [Guerin] was shot,” O’Rourke said. “That was a sort of pivotal thing which restored my Faith in Hell, in that there had to be place where people go who cause those terrible deeds.

“Now, that said, I believe that Hell exists – what I’d be less sure of is if there’s anybody there because I believe first and foremost in a merciful God.”