Priest on atonement walk arrives in Wexford

THE AUGUSTINIAN priest who has undertaken a walk from Cobh to Dublin in atonement for clerical child sex abuse and in solidarity…

THE AUGUSTINIAN priest who has undertaken a walk from Cobh to Dublin in atonement for clerical child sex abuse and in solidarity with its victims, arrived at Enniscorthy yesterday evening.

Fr Michael Mernagh left St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh, last Monday and hopes to arrive at Dublin's Pro-Cathedral next Tuesday.

Yesterday he was welcomed by a large crowd as he walked through his home village of Glenmore, Co Kilkenny, en route from New Ross to Enniscorthy.

He has been receiving "wonderful support" and commented to The Irish Times on "the fascinating conversations" he has being having with so many supporters.

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"A lot of people have spoken of the need for a new moral order in the country as a whole . . . people who don't normally talk about such things," he said. "They want a renewal of values."

Passing through Clonroche, Co Wexford, Fr Mernagh stopped to pray at the home of the Flood family, where parents Diarmuid and Lorraine and their two children, Mark (6) and Julie (5), died in tragic circumstances last April.

Today at 9am Fr Mernagh will meet victims' groups at the bridge in Enniscorthy, from where they will walk to St Aidan's Cathedral of the Ferns diocese.

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry is a contributor to The Irish Times