Neilstown priest leaves the priesthood
By Brendan Grehan
A NEILSTOWN priest has left the priesthood, reports Brendan Grehan.
Fr David Halpin was based in the Neilstown Parish.
Fr David Halpin
He told the Irish Daily Star: “I have left the priesthood, I have fallen in love and that's it, so it is a private reason and I wouldn't be wanting to make any more comment because it's not myself anymore, there's a family now.”
He added: ‘I’ve not in any way fallen out of the church.”
The Echo contacted Fr Halpin on Wednesday morning and he said he had no comment to make on the matter.
According to the Archdiocese of Dublin website, Fr Halpin is still listed as a Co-Parish Priest, Priest, for the parish of Clondalkin/Deansrath / Neilstown/Bawnogue/ Rowlagh.
The Echo contacted the Archdiocese for a comment but they did not respond as we went print. Fr Halpin made the headlines last September when he was heckled at the funeral of murder victim Darragh Nugent.
At the funeral, Fr Halpin said: “The truth is we are here today because one person decided that they wanted another person out of the way. One person made a decision that they had a license to order a hit, that they have the power of life or death over another.
“We are here because one person thought they were so important that someone else’s life could simply be extinguished.
“Who is responsible for us being here today? That person. The small minded person who made that decision.
“But there are more who share the responsibility. The one who pulled the trigger, and the one who drove the getaway car.”
