Kilnacrott Abbey Could Fetch €3m-Plus for Norbertines, by Sean McMahon, The Anglo-Celt, October 10, 2007

Kilnacrott Abbey Could Fetch €3m-Plus for Norbertines

By Sean McMahon
The Anglo-Celt
October 10, 2007

http://www.anglocelt.ie/story.asp?stID=265

Kilnacrott Abbey and 44 acres of land have been put on the market by private tender with auctioneer Padraig Smith.

It is expected that the property, which was once home to notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smith, will fetch in excess of §3m.

It is expected that the members of the Norbertine Order will build a new residence locally.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Order this week they say that after much consideration over several years the Norbertine Community has decided to dispose of Holy Trinity Abbey and surrounding lands which comprise approximately 40 acres.

The question of where the sale funds will be directed was not addressed in the details released to the media and it is not clear if any of the money will be handed over to those abused by Fr Brendan Smith.

"We will of course continue to offer support and maintain contact with those people who were so wrongly abused by one of our priests.

We must also plan our future as an ageing community - and deal with all of the challenges this presents in the years ahead," said a spokesman for the Order. A property on 3 acres within the Abbey grounds, which had been on a long-term lease, was purchased by Cavan Centre Limited in 2006.

"We want to assure people of this local area, who have been so incredibly supportive to us in the challenging times that we will be staying in the area - and will hopefully continue to provide services well into the future", said the spokesperson.

Sinn Fein Councillor Pauline McCauley has made a call for the Abbey to be kept for public use. It could provide an excellent facility for use by the voluntary, community or public sector, he said.