Who was Declan Donnelly’s brother Dermott?
DECLAN Donnelly's brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, has sadly passed away on July 8, 2022, aged 55.
The news comes after it was reported the 46-year-old Saturday Night Takeaway star rushed to be by his brother's side after he collapsed and was "extremely unwell" in hospital.
Who was Declan Donnelly's brother Dermott?
Father Dermott is eight years older than his brother Declan.
He is understood to have been a priest for 30 years.
In 2015 he officiated the wedding of his famous brother to Ali Astall in Newcastle with a star-studded ceremony.
He started out as a curate in Chester-le-Street until he was asked by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle to set up a youth outreach programme, which aimed to introduce disadvantaged youngsters to the Catholic Church.
He even transformed the Youth Ministry Team, before launching the Global Youth Village Centre in 2010 with the help of his brother and Dec's friend Ant McPartlin.
What was Dermott Donnelly's cause of death?
The tragic news was confirmed on July 8, 2022, by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.
A statement said: "It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Fr Dermott Donnelly who died peacefully this afternoon in hospital.
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"This has come as a great shock to all of us.
"Please pray for the repose of his soul and keep his family, especially his mother, in your prayers at this difficult time.
"Funeral arrangements will follow when finalised."
A cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
Once we have an update, we will let you know.
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Who are Declan Donnelly's siblings?
Dec is the youngest of seven children born to Anne and Alphonsus.
His siblings are:
- Camelia
- Patricia
- Moira
- Martin
- Eamonn
- Dermott
Dec has spoken of his close relationship with his family on a number of occasions.
He also previously revealed how he even considered following in his brother's footsteps by becoming a priest.
He said: "Growing up was like The Waltons but in Newcastle.
"We all lived in a council house in Cruddas Park in the West End. The house had three bedrooms.
"You don't need to be a maths genius to work out that three bedrooms and nine people equals a bit of a squeeze.
"The four boys were in two sets of bunk beds in one room, the three girls were in another and my mam and dad had the third room.
"My mam and dad, Anne and Alphonsus, came to Newcastle from Ireland in 1958.
"You'd often find the Donnelly clan at the Tyneside Irish Centre on a Saturday night and that was where I had my earliest performing experiences.
"Later on my brother Dermott trained to be a priest.
"When I was about 14 I did briefly consider following in his footsteps.
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"Then, one day, I got the bus home from school and it was full of lasses from the local girls' school, Sacred Heart.
"I knew right there and then that the priesthood wasn't for me."