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Paddy Power has come up with a devilishly clever publicity stunt just days before Pope Francis arrives in Ireland.

The betting company has built a a giant drive-thru confession box right across the road from Phoenix Park, where 500,000 people will gather next Sunday to hear the Pontiff will say mass.

The 13-metre-wide, 12m high structure - located on Conyngham Road, Dublin 8 - has been built to provide 'an express lane to eternal salvation for Ireland’s lapsed Catholics' ahead of the Papal visit this weekend.

The move comes after the bookmaker commissioned a survey which revealed that more than a quarter of Irish people haven't attended confession in over a decade.

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A spokeswoman for Paddy Power said: "Ireland has changed a lot since the last Pope's visit - gay marriage is legal, we’ve repealed the Eighth Amendment, and even secretly cheered for England in the World Cup."

“With decades worth of sins clocked up since then, we’re providing a convenient means to complete your contrition with your keys still in the ignition.”

She added: “And if the Catholic hierarchy have anything they’d like to get off their chests too, they are more than welcome to take a spin through our mega drive-thru confession box while they’re here."