NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph
Bishop facing backlash over handling of belfast priest accused of getting parishioner pregnant
BY DEBORAH MCALEESE – 24 MARCH 2015
Catholic Bishop Noel Treanor has come under pressure from clergy members over his handling of an alleged sexual relationship between a priest and a parishioner.
West Belfast priest Fr Ciaran Dallat is believed to have left his parochial house to stay with a friend along the north coast as the storm over his alleged affair with a woman, who became pregnant and then miscarried his child, failed to dissipate.
While parishioners have organised a rally of support for Fr Dallat to take place tonight outside St Peter’s Cathedral, where he is still officially an assistant priest, several members of the clergy have said they believe he should not be allowed to return to ministry.
They have also criticised Bishop Treanor for not advising Fr Dallat to stand aside pending an investigation when he first became aware of the claims more than a fortnight ago.
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