ITV presenter Declan Donnelly's brother is 'extremely unwell' in hospital. Father Dermott Donnelly, a Catholic priest in the north east of England, officiated at the wedding of his TV star brother.
Messages wishing the 55-year-old priest well have been posted online after Catholic parishes announced that he had been admitted to hospital in statement on Facebook. Stanley, Dipton & Byermoor Catholic Parishes posted: “Please pray for Father Dermott who is extremely unwell in hospital."
Similar messages asking for prayers for Father Dermott were also posted on the Facebook page of Pontop Partnership – a group of 10 Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle. The social media appeals prompted an outpouring of messages wishing him well.
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The statement added: “Tomorrow evening between 6pm-7pm there will be period of time before the Blessed Sacrament so that we can come together as a community in St Joseph’s Church to pray for Father Dermott’s welfare.
“Please be respectful to Father Dermott and his family at this difficult time, we will update you as and when we receive the most up to date information verified by the Diocese.”
Father Dermott, who is eight years older than Dec, is understood to have been a priest for 30 years. He officiated at the wedding of Dec to Ali Astall in Newcastle in a star-studded ceremony in 2015.
Dec is one of seven children, and was raised on Newcastle's Cruddas Park estate with three brothers - Martin, Eamonn and Dermott - and three sisters - Camelia, Patricia and Moira, the Mirror reports. Father Dermott took Holy Orders in 1992 in the same cathedral he officiated at his brother's wedding.
Speaking about is relationship with his brother, Dermott previously said: I don’t advertise that I’m Dec’s brother, but the kids always seem to know. It bridges the gap between me and them."
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