FORMER Raphoe and Derry bishop Seamus Hegarty was ‘looking very well’ when he made a rare public appearance on Sunday.
Bishop Hegarty joined current and former bishops and clergy from around Ireland in Armagh for the ordination of Mgr Eamon Martin as the new assistant Archbishop of Armagh.
Archbishop Martin will succeed Cardinal Sean Brady as Archbishop of Armagh when he retires in two years’ time.
As part of the ordination Mass Bishop Hegarty and retired bishops Edward Daly and Francis Lagan laid hands on the head of Dr Martin.
It was the first time Kilcar-born Bishop Hegarty had been seen in public for many months.
In 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 fulfil his role as diocesan bishop.
Pope Benedict accepted the resignation just two weeks later.
“He looked very well in Armagh,” said one Donegal woman who was there on Sunday afternoon.
“Whatever his condition, he certainly appeared to be coping very well.”
Bishop Hegarty was a controversial figure in Donegal and Derry over how he handled child sex abuse allegations against a number of priests.