Bishop of Waterford accuses Labour TD of 'almost inciting hatred' on schools patronage issue

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said Catholic patronage should be removed from schools in light of the mother and baby homes and other church scandals

Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Alphonsus Cullinan, wrote a letter to Labour leader Alan Kelly over comments made by Aodhán Ó Ríordáin at the Labour Party conference earlier this month.

The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore has accused a Labour Party TD of "almost inciting hatred" for suggesting religious patronage should be removed from schools.

A letter from Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan addressed to Labour Party leader Alan Kelly, and seen by the Irish Examiner, notes that Labour Party education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was "adamant" during the Labour Party conference earlier this month that religious patronage from schools "should be gotten rid of".