NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph
BY DEBORAH MCALEESE – 24 MARCH 2015
A rally in support of Fr Ciaran Dallat, who allegedly broke his vow of celibacy to have a two-year affair with a woman, has been organised by his parishioners
The rally will be held outside St Peter’s Cathedral in west Belfast at 7pm today “to show support for Fr Ciaran from the young and old of the parish to let him know that he is sadly missed”.
More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition for Fr Dallat to return to St Peter’s where he is still officially an assistant priest. Parishioners have not seen him since allegations about his relationship with a 49-year-old north Belfast woman emerged last week. However, they have said that despite the controversy they want him back.
One woman leaving Mass yesterday morning said: “All the parishioners love Fr Dallat. He is a lovely man. He would have tea for us all every Wednesday. He gave so much of his time to the parish it would be a very real loss if he did not return. I’ve no interest in what is being said about him.”
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