29 Facts About Desmond Connell

Desmond Connell was an Irish cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.

Desmond Connell was an Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland.

Desmond Connell was born in Dublin on 24 March 1926, the son of John, a civil servant and Mary Lacy, a telephone operator.

Desmond Connell was educated at St Peter's National School, Phibsboro and the Jesuit Fathers' second-level school, Belvedere College, and studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe.

Desmond Connell later studied Arts at University College Dublin and graduated with a BA in 1946; he was awarded an MA the following year.

Desmond Connell continued his studies at the Pontifical University of Leuven, Belgium, where he was awarded a doctorate in Philosophy in 1953.

Desmond Connell was ordained priest by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid in 1951 and consecrated by Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi, Titular Archbishop of Binda in 1988.

Desmond Connell had an academic career, with a post at the Department of Metaphysics in University College Dublin.

Desmond Connell was appointed Professor of General Metaphysics in 1972.

Archbishop Kevin McNamara died unexpectedly in April 1987 but Desmond Connell's appointment was not formally announced until January 1988.

Desmond Connell was 62 and dean of the faculty of philosophy and sociology at UCD but had little pastoral experience.

Desmond Connell had been a close friend of both previous archbishops of Dublin, McNamara and Dermot Ryan, and had ministered to the dying Dr McNamara.

Desmond Connell was appointed Archbishop of Dublin by the Holy See on 21 January 1988.

Desmond Connell was consecrated in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on 6 March 1988.

Desmond Connell began to speak out on social issues, particularly on unemployment, Travellers, and the disadvantaged generally.

Desmond Connell was created Cardinal-Priest by Pope John Paul II at the Consistory in Rome on 21 February 2001 with the Titulus S Silvestri in Capite.

On 26 April 2004, Desmond Connell retired as archbishop, handing the diocese to the coadjutor, Diarmuid Martin.

Desmond Connell attended the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in June 2012 and concelebrated at the Statio Orbis Mass in Croke Park Stadium.

Desmond Connell was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.

Desmond Connell had been a supporter of the Holy Office's declaration Dominus Iesus in 2000, applauding its opposition to relativism.

In 1996, Desmond Connell refused to help Marie Collins, a victim of Paul McGennis and did not pass on what he knew to her or to the police.

The prospect of Desmond Connell giving evidence to the Murphy Commission was notable in itself:.

Desmond Connell was over-reliant on advice from other people, including his auxiliary bishops and legal and medical experts.

The report found and disclosed that from 1988 onward, Desmond Connell had continued to insure his archdiocese against liability from complainants but had claimed to the Murphy Commission that the archdiocese was "on a learning curve" in regard to child abuse.

Desmond Connell arranged for compensation payments to be made from a "Stewardship Trust", which was kept secret from the archdiocese's parishioners until 2003.

Desmond Connell was criticised in some quarters for being economical with the truth in his use of the concept of mental reservation in inadequately answering questions about his knowledge of the abusive activities of priests under his control.

Desmond Connell explained the concept of mental reservation to the commission:.

Desmond Connell was forced to issue an apology for saying that Dr Empey did not "have much theological competence", and for describing his Church of Ireland counterpart as not being regarded as a "high flier".

Desmond Connell has had a number of works published on philosophical or pastoral issues.