Bishop: Ultimate delusion to ‘extinguish’ right to life

The newly-ordained Bishop of Ossory has weighed into the debate on abortion on his first day in office, describing as “paradoxical and in some ways the ultimate delusion” the proposal to “extinguish” the right to life of a child.

Bishop Dermot Farrell, aged 63, also used his episcopal ordination ceremony in Kilkenny city to call on the Government to “act with urgency” to deal with the homelessness crisis, which sees 3,000 children without a place to call home.

The new Bishop of Ossory is a former President of St Patrick’s College in Maynooth and was lately parish priest of Dunboyne in Co Meath and vicar general of the diocese of Meath. His appointment was confirmed on January 3 by Pope Francis.