A priest and friend of the late Father Dermott Donnelly has paid tribute to him in a moving service describing him as a "free spirit" who "touched and inspired" others.
Fr Dermott, who served with the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, died on July 8, 2022, aged 55, following a serious illness. He had recently celebrated 30 years of service to his parish and community after being ordained a priest on June 27, 1992.
Family and friends including brother Dec gathered on Friday at a touching Requiem Mass held at St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle. More than 2,000 people watched the service live on YouTube while hundreds attended the cathedral and alternative spaces organised by the church where people could pay their respects.
