The Vatican has recognised the “moral courage” of an Irish priest who helped save thousands of Jewish people and Allied PoWs from the Nazis during the Second World War in occupied Rome.

A half-century after his passing, the deeds of a heroic Irish priest who helped saved thousands of people in Nazi-occupied Rome during the Second World War are still talked about.

AN 80-year-old priest, held captive for a month by rebels in the Philippines a year ago, will be presented with the 2010 Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award, in Killarney at the weekend.