A veteran religious writer has applied for Irish citizenship after renouncing his UK citizenship this week in protest at Britain leaving the European Union (EU).
Scotland born John Cooney holds the distinction of being the only journalist who has been the Religious Affairs Correspondent of the Irish Times and the Irish Independent.
His books include a biography of John Charles McQuaid, Ruler of Catholic Ireland, now recognised as a classic work, and he is preparing a biography of Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich, Ireland’s Lost Peacemaker.
The 72-year-old from Glasgow said that since the Leave Campaign narrowly won the referendum on June 23, 2016, he was among the millions of British citizens who did not believe that a UK secession would actually happen.
“From 11pm on January 31, I have become technically, temporarily and territorially a non-citizen in Europe and the world,” he said of Brexit.
“On Wednesday, January 29 my British passport expired and I decided not to renew it in protest against the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.”
Mr Cooney, who is the father of Irish rugby international John Cooney, added: “I now intend to apply for Irish citizenship through the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.”