Declan Donnelly ‘rushes to see his extremely unwell’ brother Dermott after he was hospitalised

Declan Donnelly has rushed to the aide of his brother Dermott as he is treated at North Durham hospital with a mystery illness. 

The star’s older brother – a Roman Catholic priest – is ‘extremely unwell’ and was hospitalised after collapsing in a ‘sudden’ incident. 

Dermott, 55, is described as being ‘seriously ill’, with his congregation gathering to pray for him. 

Sudden: Declan Donnelly has rushed to the aide of his brother Dermott as he is treated in hospital with a mystery illness

A statement from the Stanley, Dipton & Byermoor Catholic Parishes read: ‘Please pray for Father Dermott who is extremely unwell in hospital.

‘Tomorrow evening between 6pm-7pm there will be a period of time before the Blessed Sacrament so that we can come together as a community in St Joseph’s Church to pray for Father Dermott’s welfare.

‘Please be respectful to Father Dermott and his family at this difficult time, we will update you as and when we receive the most up to date information verified by the Diocese.’

Tragic: The star’s younger brother – a Roman Catholic priest – is ‘extremely unwell’ and was hospitalised after collapsing in a ‘sudden’ incident

A statement from the Stanley, Dipton & Byermoor Catholic Parishes read: ‘Please pray for Father Dermott who is extremely unwell in hospital’

A source told The Sun: ‘Dec arrived with other family members. There are around 12 of them there at the hospital.

‘It was very sudden and everyone is just praying he pulls through.’

Dec, 46, who is eight years younger than his big brother, has previously spoken about his close relationship with his brother.

Dermott is a regular visitor to his brother’s shows, while Declan travels to the North-East frequently to attend Mass and visit the youth projects which have been a labour of love for Dermott since the Nineties.

The Roman Catholic priest was the one who conducted Dec’s wedding to Ali Astall in August 2015 at St Michael’s Church, in Elswick, where he had been a priest since 1992.

Support: Dermott, 55, is described as being ‘seriously ill’, with his congregation gathering to pray for him

A source told The Sun : ‘Dec arrived with other family members. There are around 12 of them there at the hospital’

Dec is one of seven children, and was raised on Newcastle’s Cruddas Park estate with three brothers – Martin, Eamonn and Dermott – and three sisters – Camelia, Patricia and Moira.

In his time serving as a priest, Dermott has set up a youth outreach programme aimed at introducing disadvantaged youngsters to the Catholic Church.

He started out as a curate in Chester-le-Street until, two years later, he was asked by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle to set up the programme.

He transformed the Youth Ministry Team into a thriving concern, and a few years later in 2010, with the help of Ant and Dec, he launched the Global Youth Village Centre on a former holiday camp in County Durham.

Brothers: Dec, who is eight years younger than his big brother, has previously spoken about his close relationship with his brother