A Fine Gael east Galway councillor has criticised media coverage of this week's confirmation that a local priest fathered a child.
Reports in some national newspapers and on radio and television represented a "serious intrusion into a private matter", Cllr Michael Mullins said yesterday.
"The reporting was over the top, incredible, and national daily newspapers should realise that the whole nation is not obsessed with it," Mr Mullins said.
The priest has stepped down from his post as curate in the parish of Woodford-Looscaun, where he had served for 18 months, following consultation with the Bishop of Clonfert Dr John Kirby.
Dr Kirby informed the Woodford-Looscaun pastoral council last weekend.
Mr Mullins said "times had changed" - a point also made this week by the pastoral council's chairman Justin O'Byrne.
"I have had to take a number of phone calls this week from newspapers seeking the name of the woman in question, and other private details which I would, of course, not have.
"This is an unnecessary invasion of privacy, and I understand that certain people's houses have been under siege from the media this week."
