[2] Born in Carnew, County Wicklow, Griffin was educated at Kilkenny College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he was elected a scholar and awarded the Luce, Bernard, Wray and Macren prizes for philosophy and metaphysical studies.
He had a long and mutually satisfying relationship with Trinity in his years in ministry in Dublin.
They had twin sons Timothy (died 5 June 2012) and Kevin, both married and Griffin has five grandchildren.
[4] He held curacies at St Augustine's in Derry then at Christ Church, in the same city.
[7] He was the author of several books including: He lived in retirement in Limavady, Northern Ireland, until his death in 2017.