Minister denied a role in godson’s Confirmation ‘over abortion views’

A minister of state has claimed that he has been barred from sponsoring his godson at a Confirmation Mass because of his views on abortion.

Independent Alliance TD John Halligan has accused the Church of resorting to “pitiful tactics” in the Eighth Amendment referendum after he was prohibited from being a sponsor by the Bishop of Waterford.

“I was contacted by the parents of my godson on Thursday to tell me that they had been approached by a member of clergy and told that I could not stand as sponsor at the ceremony on Sunday and that this was the view of the bishop,” said Mr Halligan.