Limerick to have a new Bishop by Christmas

THE list of candidates to succeed Dr Donal Murray as Bishop of Limerick has been whittled down to the last few names and the Office of the Papal Nuncio is expected to send diocesan priests' top three choices to the Vatican in the coming weeks.

And we could have a new bishop to succeed Dr Murray by Christmas.

The nuncio has been writing to Limerick priests for some time and is now seeking feedback on a number of names.

These are believed to include, but are not limited to, three priests currently working in Limerick City – Monaleen's Monsignor Dan Neenan; Fr William Walsh, of Our Lady of the Rosary, Ennis Road; and Fr Eamonn Fitzgibbon, of Mungret/Crecora/Raheen.

Both Fr Fitzgibbon and Msgr Neenan are vicars general of the diocese.

Limerick has been without a bishop since December of last year when Dr Murray resigned following criticism of his handling of clerical abuse complaints outlined in the Murphy Report on the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Former diocesan secretary Fr Tony Mullins has been acting as temporary administrator of the diocese since the resignation that rocked the Church in Limerick.

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