Ruth Hogan

Popular healing priest, Fr Noel Conlan has said that the recession may be the reason he is overrun with requests from all over the country. The priest who is completely booked out for the next three months said ''there is an awful lot of stress in people's lives with this recession. I never came across as much cancer in my life as I have in this last year, and I have never seen so much depression''.

Fr Conlan, who has been in full-time healing since 1991, has been touring the country by invitation and will be heading northwards this week, covering Fermanagh and Donegal and onto Manorhamilton the following week.

However, he stressed that healing is by appointment only and he is unable to take on anymore as he is booked up. Fr Conlan said that he had large crowds in the Midlands last week which he said was ''very draining''.

''It is both physically and mentally very draining; physically the back and the shoulders are burdened as I am praying over people but I love it and I love helping people so I do what I can for them,'' he said.