Murdered Cork-born bishop welcomed gay parishioners and paid rent for migrant families

As the anniversary approaches of Bishop David O'Connell's murder, friends and family of the Glanmire man share memories of his kindness and generosity

Bishop David O’Connell with Cleivi Jerez Arrendodo and her daughters, who he helped with rent after Cleivi’s husband Fernando was deported under the family separation policy brought in in the US in 2018.

When a young gay man’s path first crossed with a Cork-born bishop, he did not realise the meeting would change his life.

But as the first anniversary of Bishop David O’Connell’s murder at his Los Angeles home approaches in February, Bill Chapman is one of hundreds of people across the archdiocese of Los Angeles who grieves the loss of the affable Corkman.