Francis Gerard Brooks (14 January 1924 – 4 September 2010[1]) was theCatholicBishop of theDiocese of Dromore,Northern Ireland.[2]
Born inRathfriland,County Down,[3] he was confirmed 22 April 1934 in Barnmeen Church, Drumgath Parish before proceeding first to theAbbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School, thenSt Colman's College, Newry where eventually he was appointed Head Prefect, for his secondary education.[citation needed]
In 1942 he enteredSt Patrick's College, Maynooth to begin his studies for the priesthood, where he graduated with a BSc (in mathematical science) in 1945 and again with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1948. He was ordained Priest 19 June 1949.[citation needed]
After ordination he pursued post-graduate studies in Rome, achieving his Doctorate in Canon Law in June 1952. Dr Brooks was appointed in the autumn of 1953 to the staff of St. Colman's College, where he taught Science, Geography and Mathematics. He was appointed College President in 1972 and in the same year a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter.[citation needed]
His appointment as Bishop was made public on 20 November 1975, and he received episcopal ordination on 25 January 1976.[4] Theprincipal consecrator was CardinalWilliam Conway; the principal co-consecrators were thePapal Nuncio ArchbishopGaetano Alibrandi and Bishop Eugene O'Doherty, the retiring bishop of the diocese.[citation needed]
In early 2018 it became known that Bishop Brooks had failed, on more than one occasion, to stop the behaviour of his paedophile colleague on the staff of St. Colman's College, preferring instead a "pastoral" approach.[5]
Brooks retired on 4 June 1999,[4] and was succeeded byJohn McAreavey. He remained as Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Dromore until his death on 2 September 2010, aged 86.[4] At his funeral Mass his successorJohn McAreavey observed that "his life was touched often by the Troubles; the violence and suffering of many people in the diocese in those years affected him deeply. The discouragement of those years weighed heavily upon him."[6]
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