Parish shock as priest admits fathering child

Parishioners of an elderly Co Galway priest were in shock today after learning he had fathered a child with a woman half his age.

Fr Maurice Dillane, a curate in the Woodford-Looscaun parish, has quit the diocese to consider the future of the baby and its mother.

The Bishop of Clonfert, Dr John Kirby confirmed in a statement that a priest had admitted to him on January 6 that he had recently fathered a baby.

The priest, 73 is believed to have met the 31-year-old woman while serving in a previous parish within the Clonfert diocese.

Fr Dillane’s parish priest Fr Pat Naughten was unavailable for comment today.

But parishioners in the south-east Galway area expressed shock at the news about the popular priest, who has fled Co Galway to live with a relative.

A member of the Woodford-Looscaun pastoral council said of Fr Dillane today: “He got on well with everybody but I suppose his position was no longer tenable.

“Of course we are shocked. One day he’s here and the next day he’s not, so it will take a bit of getting used to.”

Dr Kirby said in a statement that he hoped the priest would be given time and space to plan for the future of the baby and mother.

He said: “On 6th January a priest on loan to the Clonfert Diocese confirmed to me that he had recently fathered a baby with an adult woman.

“Since then, I have met both the priest and the mother.

“I hope that the priest, who has ceased to work in the diocese, the mother, and all those involved, be given appropriate time and space to plan for their respective futures.

“I consider this to be a private matter and as such I will make no further comment.”