The death has been confirmed of former priest Eugene Greene, who was sentenced in 1999 to 12 years in prison for abusing 26 boys between 1965 and 1982 in Co Donegal.
Most of his victims were altar boys.
Greene pleaded guilty to 40 sample charges of indecent assault, buggery and gross indecency out of a total of 108 charges.
He was 71 when he was jailed in early 2000 and was released in 2008.
This evening, the Bishop of Raphoe confirmed that the diocese was informed on 26 February by gardaí that Greene died last November in Cork.
According to a statement issued by Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, until that contact from the gardaí, the diocese was not aware of his death.
He said that the diocese had not known of Greene's whereabouts since he left prison in 2008 and added that Greene was dismissed from the clerical state in November 2004.
Bishop McGuckian said: "The news of the death of Eugene Greene has reopened the hurt of those whom he violated, their loving families and communities across the Diocese of Raphoe.
"On behalf of the diocese I wish to express my profound sorrow and shame at the abuse which he perpetrated on innocent children.
"Once the diocese was made aware of Greene's death, we immediately advised Tusla, the child and family agency, of this information. "
