In his homily, Mgr Tommy Johnston told mourners, “The gunshots that rang out in the early hours of Wednesday morning echoed not just in the town of Castlerea but right across the country.”

It is a source of joy for me to know that we now have a rescheduled date of Sunday 30 August for my Episcopal Ordination as Bishop of Achonry – Fr Paul Dempsey, PP of Newbridge and Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Achonry.

A “gifted communicator”, the new bishop has served as Diocesan Youth Director and Director of Vocations and has hosted a successful religious affairs programme on KFM Radio and written a regular column in the Leinster Leader.

“This totally undermines the whole concept of freedom of conscience which was guaranteed in the recent legislation.”