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The Most Reverend
Dr

Séamus Hegarty,

D.D.
The Most Reverend; Dr; Séamus Hegarty,; D.D.
Bishop Emeritus of Derry
Diocese	Derry
Appointed	1 October 1994
Installed	6 November 1994
Term ended	23 November 2011
Predecessor	Edward Daly
Successor	Donal McKeown
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Raphoe
Orders
Ordination	19 June 1966; by John Charles McQuaid
Consecration	28 March 1982; by Tomás Ó Fiaich
Personal details
Born	26 January 1940; Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland
Died	20 September 2019 (aged 79); Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Denomination	Roman Catholic

Séamus Hegarty, D.D. (26 January 1940 – 20 September 2019)^[1] was an Irish Catholic prelate. He served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1982 to 1994, then as Bishop of Derry from 1994 to 2011.^[2]

Early life and ministry

Hegarty was born in Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1940.^[2] He had one brother, Dermot, and one sister, Maire. He received his education in Kilcar National School, St Eunan's College, Letterkenny, and St Patrick's College, Maynooth,^[3] which he attended from 1959 to 1966.

He graduated in Celtic Studies and spoke fluent Irish, English and German. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop McQuaid of Dublin at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth on 19 June 1966. He taught in Colaiste na Croise Naofa, Falcarragh, where he later became President (1971–1981).

He carried through the establishment of Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola in 1973, becoming its first Principal, and with his staff he made it a successful school. His last appointment before elevation to the Episcopate was as a curate in Stranorlar.

Episcopal Ministry

He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe by the Holy See on 12 February 1982. His episcopal consecration took place at St Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny on 28 March 1982, the principal consecrator was Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, and the principal co-consecrators were Gaetano Alibrandi, titular Archbishop of Binda, and Edward Daly, Bishop of Derry.^[2] A brusque man with an abrupt air about him and small of stature, he was described by one Maynooth College professor as a "cross between Mussolini and the Child of Prague."

Following the resignation of Bishop Edward Daly on 26 October 1993,^[4] Dr Hegarty was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Derry by the Holy See on 1 October 1994 and installed at St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry on 6 November 1994.^[2]

In November 2009, Bishop Hegarty expressed concern after 17 priests in the Derry diocese were found to have child sexual abuse allegations filed against them.^[5]

In 2010 the Belfast Telegraph and other media outlets reported that Bishop Hegarty was a named defendant in a civil legal action concerning the alleged abuse of a young girl by a priest of the Derry diocese. Bishop Hegarty made a statement to the press asserting that no diocesan funds had been used to compensate the victim.^[6]

Hegarty's handling of similar abuse allegations in the Diocese of Raphoe and the extent of the Sexual abuse in Raphoe diocese reflected poorly on Hegarty's oversight.

Retirement

On 7 November 2011, he issued a statement saying that, having been diagnosed with "a condition which is, unfortunately, irreversible and progressive", he had submitted his resignation because he was no longer able to fulfill his role as diocesan bishop.^[7]^[8] The Holy See announced on 23 November 2011 that his resignation had been accepted.^[9]

He was succeeded by Donal McKeown in 2014 and Bishop Hegarty died on 20 September 2019.

References

^ highlandradio.com/2019/09/20/former-bishop-of-raphoe-and-derry-seamus-hegarty-dies/
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Bishop Séamus Hegarty". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
^ Canning, Bernard (1988). Bishops of Ireland 1870-1987. Ballyshannon: Donegal Democrat. p. 150. ISBN 1870963008.
^ "Bishop Edward Kevin Daly". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
^ 17 Derry priests faced sex abuse claims - Bishop Hegarty
^ "Derry bishop in alleged secret abuse deal". 18 March 2010.
^ Press statement regarding the health of Bishop Séamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry
^ Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty to stand down. BBC News. Dated 7 November 2011.
^ RINUNCIA DEL VESCOVO DI DERRY (IRLANDA) Archived 2012-07-12 at archive.today

External links

Photo

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Anthony McFeely	Bishop of Raphoe 1982–1994	Succeeded by Philip Boyce
Preceded by Edward Daly	Bishop of Derry 1994–2011	Succeeded by Donal McKeown