Former Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray dies

Bishop Donal Murray. Appointed auxilliary bishop in 1981 in Dublin, he had been one of the auxiliary bishops criticised by the Murphy report into how allegations of child sexual abuse in the archdiocese were dealt with. Picture:Press 22

Bishop Donal Murray, a former bishop of Limerick and auxiliary bishop in Dublin, has died.

He had resigned in 2009 as Bishop of Limerick over his handling of child abuse allegations during his time in Dublin during the 1980s but continued to minister in the diocese.

Bishop Murray died in the early hours of Sunday morning at Milford Care Centre in the company of two priests.

Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy said on Sunday he made “an enormous contribution” to Limerick since being appointed parish priest in 1996. 

At the time he was the first appointment from outside the diocese in 200 years.

“Endowed with a brilliant mind, Bishop Donal treasured and communicated wisdom, was gentle in spirit and generous of heart. His contribution to faith was enormous and he will be sadly missed,” he said.

He also noted his work in Limerick overseeing the completion of the conservation works on St John’s Cathedral.

He worked to include young people in the church and overcome challenges for parishes as priest numbers dwindled. He appointed a full-time chaplain to Limerick prison among other reforms.

Bishop Leahy also acknowledged, however, his final years as bishop were "clouded" by revelations of child abuse in Dublin. 

Appointed auxilliary bishop in 1981 in Dublin, he had been one of the auxiliary bishops criticised by the Murphy report into how allegations of child sexual abuse in the archdiocese were dealt with between 1975 and 2004.

In his resignation statement, he had said: “Some expressed the wish that I should resign; others asked me not to do so. I know full well that my resignation cannot undo the pain that survivors of abuse have suffered in the past and continue to suffer each day.

“I humbly apologise once again to all who were abused as little children.”