Two nuns from the Republic of Ireland are facing accusations of breaking COVID regulations for travelling nearly 200 kilometres to Dublin in December to exorcise the country’s parliament, according to the Irish Examiner.
The trip took place at a time when domestic travel between counties was prohibited in the country.
Mother Irene Gibson and Sister Anne Marie of the Carmelite Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus from Cork, joined a group of nearly 70 participants gathering outside the Irish parliament on 8 December to expel the demons from the Dail building.
The procession, led by Fr Giacomo Ballini from The Society of St Pius Resistance, then moved to Herbert Park for the traditional Latin Mass.
Under Ireland’s COVID lockdown rules, outdoor gatherings are limited to 15 people.
It’s not clear whether other attendees of the “exorcism” session face a similar backlash as the nuns in relation to breaking COVID restrictions for their participation in the event.
The video of the procession has been circulating online since December.
As Fr Ballini was caught on camera spraying holy water on the Irish Government buildings, he expressed hope that “some of these evil spirits” have now left the place.
“No human power can take away the right to say Mass,” Fr Ballini added.
Mother Gibson and her religious colleague have apparently travelled several hundres kilometres for demon-expelling procession. Some social users joked that the trip was an “essential journey.”
Obviously they considered it an essential journey
— Joan Ni Mhurchu (@JMhurchu) February 21, 2021
Maybe they know something we don't.
— Dee (@agirlcalleddee) February 21, 2021
— Dr. Ethel Crowley (@ethelcrowley2) February 21, 2021
Sure someone has to do it
— EllenT (@EllenT82455678) February 21, 2021
I'm not sure it worked. That crowd are still there!
— Mairead Cronin (@MaireadCronin6) February 21, 2021
The two nuns have already been in hot water with the law, the Irish Examiner says. In 2019, Mother Irene Gibson was convicted for violating planning regulations with a religious retreat which she sited at Corran South.
The nuns were ordered to leave the place and have now raised more than €77,000 in crowdfunding to purchase a new property after attempts by “the children of darkness” to crush them, Mother Irene said on her GoFundMe page.
