Bishop Philip Boyce (right).

FORMER Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce, has been appointed to stand in for the Bishop of Dromore following his resignation.

Bishop John McAreavey stood down amid controversy over celebrating Mass alongside a priest whom he knew was a paedophile.

The late Fr Malachy Finegan has been accused of sexual abuse by 12 people.

There had been calls for Bishop McAreavey to resign.

Pope Francis announced that he had now accepted Bishop McAreavey’s resignation and the pontiff has appointed Bishop Boyce as the apostolic administrator of Dromore, while the seat remains vacant.

Bishop Boyce (78) is originally from Downings and spent much of his life teaching and preparing young men for the priesthood in Rome.

He served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1995 until last June when he stepped down to be replaced by Bishop Alan McGuckian.

Fr Finegan, a teacher at St Colman’s College in Newry from 1967 to 1976 and president of the school from 1976 to 1987, is also accused of a catalogue of physical and emotional abuse against pupils.