June 30, 2005

Mystery over disappearing priest

BRITAIN
U.TV

Father Christopher Clonan's whereabouts has been the source of as much speculation in recent years and filled as much newspaper copy as the progress of the child abuse legal claims against him.

But the mystery ended in May last year when West Midlands Police confirmed that the man known to neighbours in a quiet Melbourne suburb as Christie Oliver was the fugitive priest and that he had died in 1998.

Born in Clonard, Co Meath, Christopher Oliver Clonan had been a part-time builder and property developer before entering the priesthood and being posted to Christ the King church in Coundon, Coventry, in the 1970s.

Because of his former trade, he became known as "Father Fix It" for his skills in church construction schemes.

But the priest, who was known to swear like a trooper and have a weakness for whiskey and cigars, became embroiled in an altogether different project, abusing young parishioners and altar boys.

Posted by kshaw at June 30, 2005 06:28 PM