Bishop turns down ordination invite

Bishop John Magee will not attend the ordination of his successor at Cobh Cathedral this weekend “in case he becomes a distraction”, according to the diocese of Cloyne.

Bishop Magee informed the diocese of his decision before formal invites were sent out to the country’s bishops and the diocese’s priests.

The former private secretary to three popes stepped down from the day-to-day running of the diocese nearly four years ago after his mishandling of sexual abuse complaints in the diocese first came to light.