Archbishop a bystander to vicious family row after Confirmation

Confirmation children fled a North Galway church last week after a vicious row broke out between the parents of one of those who had just been confirmed.

The row between two parents occurred at the rear of the church as the Archbishop of Tuam Dr. Michael Neary was having his photograph taken with some of the other children at the altar.

Gardaí and an ambulance attended the scene of the incident as children were rushed out the side entrance to the church.

There was a packed church for the confirmation of more than 90 children from the general area. Families gathered in Corofin from around 2pm for the ceremony which commenced a half hour later.

The Archbishop of Tuam arrived at the church much to the delight of the parents and children but towards the end of the ceremony events turned sour.

At the back of the church there was an incident between a man and a woman – understood to be parents of one of the children that was being confirmed.

According to investigating Gardaí, a third party became involved in the incident which resulted in some of the gathering being disturbed by what was going on.

It transpired in a woman being taken to hospital after it was alleged that she was struck in the face while a man was questioned in relation to an alleged assault.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune