Dromore bishop should have delayed resignation – PR man

Dr John McAreavey ought to have held off for a few months before tendering his resignation as Bishop of Dromore, an old friend and PR adviser to he bishop has said.

Speaking on BBC’s Talkback, Tom Kelly said he advised the bishop against resigning, saying: “If you want to do it, do it in a few months’ time when all of the facts and all of the details are out there”.

The bishop’s resignation was, however, unavoidable, he said. “I think that when you lose the confidence of the diocese then it’s inevitable that you have to resign,” he said, continuing, “it’s the manner of the resignation, I suppose, that you have to look at.”

Dr McAreavey wrote his letter of resignation to the Pope on March 4, following his announcement three days earlier that he would be stepping down against a background of controversy over how in 2000 he had allowed Fr Malachy Finnegan to concelebrate a Mass with him, and had concelebrated Fr Finnegan’s funeral Mass in 2002, despite having known since 1994 that the former president of St Colman’s College, Newry, had been accused of child sexual abuse.

In a letter to the people, religious and clergy of Dromore, Dr McAreavey expressed gratitude for the kindness and co-operation he had received since becoming bishop of his home diocese in 1999, and said he had wrestled for some weeks over his decision to resign before doing so “following recent media coverage which has disturbed and upset many people”.

“I would ask you first and foremost to continue to hold in your prayers those who have been abused and all who are suffering at this time,” he said.

Thirteen people have alleged that they were abused by Fr Finnegan, who Dr McAreavey’s predecessor, Bishop Francis Brooks, “forcibly retired” from priestly ministry in 1996, according to Dr McAreavey.

After accepting Dr McAreavey’s resignation, the Pope will appoint an administrator for the diocese, who is expected to be a bishop from the neighbouring dioceses of Armagh or Down and Connor.

In the meantime, the diocesan Vicar General, Canon Liam Stevenson, will take responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the diocese, while the diocese’s parish priests will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to the children of Dromore.