Father Brian D'Arcy: 'Family was everything to Sir Terry'

Sir Terry Wogan's longtime friend Father Brian D'Arcy has said he is "heartbroken" at his death while paying an emotional tribute to the veteran broadcaster.

Father D'Arcy, a regular contributor to Wake Up To Wogan for 20 years, was a friend for more than four decades and officiated at the weddings of Sir Terry's children.

He said he spent a "family day" with Sir Terry on Thursday and the pair said their final goodbyes.

"He was quite ill at that stage and I knew it wasn't long. We prepared for the worst, and thank God Terry got out of his suffering," he said.

Father D'Arcy added that Sir Terry's family was the centre of his life.

"Lady Helen was the love of his life," he added.

He said: "If you go into Terry Wogan's house you won't see a picture of any star - you'll see pictures of his children and grandchildren festooned around the walls.

"You'll also see a picture of the certificate he got for the Freedom of Limerick."

Father D'Arcy revealed to ITV News that Sir Terry's illness was quite sudden and that he had intended to host Children In Need but had to pull out on medical advice.

Despite the late broadcaster's professed atheism, Father D'Arcy said God would be "way off" if Sir Terry does not have a place in heaven.

"He was filled with love, he was filled with charity, he helped so may people in a quiet way," he said.

"Honest to God, if there is not room for Terry Wogan in heaven, well then, the God I've been preaching is a way off.

"He put it into practice, whether he could agree with religious institutions or not is an entirely different thing. But he had certainly a great deal of faith."

Fellow Irishman Fr D'Arcy regularly linked up with Sir Terry live on air from his monastery in Co Fermanagh as part of his breakfast radio show's Pause for Thought segment.

The presenter used to joke that Father D'Arcy wouldn't get out of bed to join him.

"We used to have great banters," said the Passionist priest.

"I'm sure half the 10 million that were listening to us hadn't a clue what we were talking about, because he would break into Irish, break into Latin, he would break into all sorts of funny things along the way.

"It was just a joy to work with him."