Fr Nugent, the former priest of St Patrick’s RC Church in Anderston, Glasgow, died from a heart attack at the age of 66 last week. At the weekend, a tabloid newspaper claimed he “drank around the clock” after his affair with Ms Kluk, details of which emerged during Peter Tobin’s trial for her murder.

Those closest to Fr Nugent say the reports cannot be further from the truth and argue fervently that he should be remembered not for headlines about his claims he had relations with prostitutes and parishioners, nor his contempt of court conviction following the 2007 trial, but for his unceasing work for the vulnerable and poor and his efforts to bridge Catholic-Prostestant divides.

They say his naive offers of shelter to Glasgow’s most vulnerable resulted in him becoming a tragic “victim of his own generosity”.

The brutalised body of Ms Kluk, 23, was found under a trapdoor in the church where Fr Nugent had been parish priest for 10 years in 2006. She had been the church’s part-time cleaner and had slept in the chapel house.

Sex offender Tobin, who was using a false name when Fr Nugent gave him shelter and a job as the church’s handyman, was convicted of killing her.

During the trial, the Dublin-born priest told the court he was suffering from alcoholism and depression and had had an affair with a married female parishioner. He later admitted to “sexual fumbling” with a string of prostitutes in his chapel house.

Fr Nugent was convicted of contempt of court due to the inconsistency of his evidence. Sentenced to 100 hours of community service and put on probation for a year, he resigned from the church after 40 years in the priesthood.

Although those close to him say they were left “flabbergasted,” their anger has dimmed.

Close friend Pat Quinn said: “Fr Gerry welcomed Tobin into the church without questioning his background, just as he had with so many homeless people before him. Everyone was taken in by him, he came across as one of those guys who could never do enough for you.”

Canon Robert Hill, who took over as priest at St Patrick’s after the scandal, told how Fr Nugent intervened to prevented two

asylum seekers from being deported back to Pakistan, where they claimed they would be killed.

“Fr Gerry allowed them to take refuge in the church after immigration officers ordered them to return Pakistan,” he said. “Gerry enlisted the help of the local MP and was absolutely instrumental in ultimately preventing them being forced from the country.”

Irene Legatt, 48, a friend for more than 15 years who stood by Fr Nugent, said he turned his home into an unofficial hostel for homeless people.

“He always fought for the underdog,” she said. “If somebody was released from prison and had no home to return to, social services would ring him up and ask if he would take them in. He never said no and he never asked what they had done.”

On Christmas Day Fr Nugent would announce that anyone who was alone should join him in his home for dinner.

Disagreements broke out within St Patrick’s as many believed Fr Nugent, in his attempts to help the needy, was leaving the church open to possible vandalism.

St Patrick’s 67-year-old organist, Barry McCarten, said: “He also used to invite people in off the street. He got all sorts but, regardless of people’s backgrounds, Fr Gerry would always welcome them in.”

Ms Legatt believes Fr Nugent’s compassion stemmed from his struggle with alcohol and depression. “We all have faults but Fr Nugent always admitted them,” she said.

“He was the human side of the clergy. His flaws often made him a better priest because he could understand people’s problems.”

Mr McCarten told how Fr Nugent brought two primary schools, Protestant Anderston and Catholic St Stephen’s, together for joint services as well as organising dinners at his house to encourage staff from the schools to mix. Fr Nugent also initiated a tradition where, once a year, his congregation would go on a procession to another denomination’s church to worship together.

Fr Nugent spent his last few years dedicating much of his time to helping others with drinking problems and he held informal masses in his home for his closest friends.

“The man paid a terrible price for his acts of kindness,” said long-time friend Pat Roper. “There will be a deep feeling of sadness, but the one thing St Patrick’s is all about is forgiveness.”

A requiem mass will be held for Fr Nugent at 10.45am today at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Cardonald, Glasgow.