TRIBUTES have been paid to a priest who served at an East Lancashire church for more than nine years.

Canon Liam Houlihan, 76, served as an assistant priest at Sacred Heart RC Church in Accrington between August 1961 and September 1970.

He died at Nazareth House nursing home in Prestwich after being ill for some time.

He later moved to a church in Castleton before being given his own parish, St Sebastian’s, in Pendleton. This would also be extended to cover a neighbouring congregation in Lower Broughton in 2009.

Canon Houlihan also served as a trustee of the Salford Diocese, which covers most of East Lancashire, as Dean of St John’s Deanery.

The Limerick-born churchman was in his 53rd year as a priest, having trained for his vocation at St Patrick’s College in Thurles.

Bishop of Salford Terence Brain conducted his funeral service at the diocese’s cathedral church and he was bured in St Mary’s Cemetery, Wardley.