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Heart and Soul: Father Joe

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Father Joe

11/09/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Father Joe

Last year Father Joe Gormley spoke out against Lyra McKee’s murder in Northern Ireland.

Just over a year ago, 29 year old Lyra McKee was shot dead in Northern Ireland.
 
The day after she was murdered, the parish priest in the part of Londonderry where she was shot was angry and deeply upset, and he spoke out against those who pulled the trigger. Father Joe Gormley knew it could be dangerous to be so vocal but nevertheless he said: "Our parish is full of so many good people and these people come into our area and use us to carry out such vile acts. How dare they. How dare they."
"They have done it in this Holy Week. They have done it in a way that is totally, totally anti-Gospel and literally anti-Christ."
 
Father Gormley was right. Speaking publicly took its toll. He felt at risk from groups like the New IRA and Saoradh, and fellow clergy urged him to watch it.
 
However Father Gormley hasn't stopped meditating on Lyra's death.  Now he feels it's safer to tell the story of what it's like to serve parishioners in a housing estate which has been at the heart of the sectarian conflict for so long.
 
Presented by Siobhann Tighe.

(Image: Father Gormley / Credit: BBC)

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