Declan receives Pope’s blessing at Croke Park

Declan receives Pope’s blessing at Croke Park

29 August 2018

A PERSONAL blessing by Pope Francis was an emotional and poignant moment for Saintfield man Declan McMullan and his family.

The 25 year-old, who suffers from Locked-in Syndrome, received the blessing from the Pope as he left the Croke Park concert on Saturday night.

Surrounded by his family, Declan was singled out to receive the blessing as one of the cardinals sitting gave him a nod to Declan’s.

The touching moment was captured on television as the concert headlined by tenor Andrea Bocelli was beamed throughout the world.

His father, John, told the Recorder that his family only knew late on Friday night that Declan had been given a place in the special area set aside for disabled guests.

“It was Fr Brendan Smyth, of Crossgar, who came to our home on Friday night to let us know that Declan had a place at the concert for which we are forever grateful as a family,” he said.

“It was a bit of an effort to get it all organised for us to travel down to Dublin the next day.

“Declan just happened to be in the right place right beside where Pope Francis was sitting when the Pope was about to leave and one of the cardinals nodded over to him.

“It was very emotional for Declan and for all of us in fact, as sometimes he questions why he has been left in this condition and wondering whether it will ever change.

“It was well worth the trip and effort to get him Declan there. It gave us all great heart and a bit of hope, sure it’s good to have that than not.”

Declan was accompanied by his father, mother Brenda, granny Annie Mullan and main carer Amanda Young.

He has been in a Locked-in condition — where the power of speech and movement is inhibited in a person while they maintain full cognitive ability — since suffering a heart attack when he was 19 in his own bedroom.

Declan was pronounced dead for 30 minutes, but was revived by medical professionals. However, he has been left in a wheelchair with a complex set of medical needs.

He made headlines in 2015 when a video of his brother Mark singing the Les Miserables classic song, Bring Him Home, to him went viral and secured Mark a chance to perform live on RTE’s The Late Late Show and on BBC NI’s Nolan Show.

Mr McMullan revealed that he dared to hope for special access for Declan when the Pope’s Ireland visit was first muted months ago by getting in contact with Fr Raymond McCullough of Portstewart.

He said that it was through the auspices of Fr McCullough, Fr Smyth, Councillor Terry Andrews and his close friend, Paul Fitzsimmons, that Declan’s attendance was made possible and thanked them on behalf of Declan and his family.