Several priests in the Diocese of Armagh have pledged to offer accommodation in their parishes to house Ukrainian refugees.

Fr Paul Byrne is one of a growing number of priests in the diocese who have registered with the Irish Red Cross to offer his spare room in the Parochial House in Termonfeckin, Co Louth.

The diocese has some 120 priests across 61 parishes who have been asked by Archbishop Eamon Martin to consider offering any spare rooms or accommodation for use by refugees.

Fr Paul is a member of the Diocesan Council of Priests who met last Thursday to discuss the situation and hear reports from the National Bishop’s Council which confirmed that all bishops had offered to take the lead on offering their homes to help refugees.

“We have to take a lead in this to encourage others to free up any empty properties or holiday homes for short term use by the Red Cross for refugees,” he said.