Hundreds attend funeral of priest after ‘shock’ death

HUNDREDS of people yesterday attended the funeral of a popular priest who committed suicide.

Fr John Joe Donnelly, a curate in Co Louth, was buried near his home village of Grange in south Down.

Friends and acquaintances paid tribute to the 46-year-old curate, with one of his colleagues describing him simply as a “gentle soul”.

Fr Sean McCartney, the parish priest in nearby Kilkeel, said: “We have all been extremely shocked by the news of his sudden death. It’s a terrible tragedy.”

Fr McCartney said it was unclear why Fr Donnelly took his own life but added that he must have had his own reasons.

He added: “He was a very talented man and could turn his hand to just about anything. He loved cooking and flowers and enjoyed landscaping gardens.

“He was quite famous in the church for landscaping the gardens of the houses he lived in throughout his career.”

Newry and Mourne councillor Michael Cole, who knew Fr Donnelly and was at yesterday’s funeral.

“The whole community is in shock after we heard of his death. He was a very popular man in both this parish and the ones he practiced in,” Cllr Cole said.

Fr Donnelly was buried in Massforth Cemetery, close to the home of his elderly parents Vera and Thomas, following mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church at Grange.

Ordained in 1983, Fr Donnelly worked in a number of parishes before being posted as curate to Cooley, near Dundalk.

He said his last mass on Friday and was found dead at his Dundalk home on Sunday.

The number for the Samaritans is 1850 609090.