SELF-PROCLAIMED visionary Joe Coleman was prevented from entering the Apparition Church in Knock for his predicted visitation by Our Lady at 2pm.Undeterred, Mr Coleman and his followers moved to the car park where he later wiped tears from his face before proclaiming he had seen Our Lady appear at the Mayo shrine.
Some 200 onlookers tightly gathered around Mr Coleman to hear what he had to say.
Many also vented their annoyance at how the ‘visionary’ was not allowed into the Apparition Church located on the grounds of the Mayo town.
Security men had earlier blocked the three doors into the church while a barrier was put up to prevent the crowd from gathering outside it.
Speaking shortly after 2.30pm Mr Coleman explained why the people of Ireland should be very worried.
"Our Lady was crying today. When she cries, I cry. She told me that the devil is present in Knock today. I wear St Benedict’s Cross to protect myself from the devil. She has asked us to keep praying.
"She is delighted with everyone who has come here today to pray. But she desperately wants us to pray for the priests."
Mr Coleman went on to say Our Lady was annoyed that he and his followers were not allowed into the Apparition Church.
"The church is for the people and they should not be stopped from going in," he said.
He also explained how Our Lady pointed to the problems in the North and how she feared that troubles could flare up again.
Wearing a blue shirt and clasping a set of brown rosary beads, Dublin-based Mr Coleman knelt down and blessed himself and shortly after 2.15pm a smile started to come over his face.
*The documentary Apparitions, will air on RTÉ One on Monday night at 9.35pm. It looks at the phenomenon of religious apparitions in Ireland.