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	Controversial Birmingham Priest 'Victim of Hate Campaign' By Edward Chadwick Sunday Mercury April 26, 2009 http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2009/04/26/controversial- birmingham-priest-victim-of-hate-campaign-66331-23473520/ A CATHOLIC priest once hunted by Interpol after more than £100,000 went missing from his parish fears he may be the target of a hate campaign. Father Seamus Hetherton, from Our Lady of Fatima church in Quinton, came to Birmingham after dodging jail on medical grounds more than a decade ago. The 80 year-old, who said he suffered from heart trouble, admitted failing to declare £130,000 of parish money in his annual returns when he was based at Holy Apostles' Church in Swanley, Kent. The Irish-born priest finally faced charges at Dartford Magistrates in 1998 after Interpol launched a manhunt and police searched three continents for him. The JP told him his crime justified a custodial sentence, but it was suspended because of his age and ill health. Fr Hetherton had caused controversy two years earlier while chairman of the board of governors at the Catholic primary school St Bartholemew's in Swanley. Sister Clotilde, the head teacher, took him to an industrial tribunal and won an unfair dismissal after he stripped her of financial responsibility for the school. Fears Now he fears that his past may have caught up with him after flyers featuring news reports about the Interpol manhunt for him were posted on cars while he said mass last Monday night. The news reports date from a time when he failed to answer bail while facing theft charges. Prosecutors dropped more serious allegations but Fr Hetherton admitted false accounting. When contacted by the Sunday Mercury, Fr Hetherton said he was "saddened" by attempts to resurrect his past. He said that confusion over his bail dates led to the hunt by Interpol. "There is no such thing as a perfect man and I admit I made a mistake," he said. "There was never any theft and when I left the parish there was £400,000 in the accounts. "But I am shocked and saddened that somebody wants to rake up my past. "If somebody has a problem, I would rather they come and discuss it with me." One parishioner, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that worshippers had been in the dark about the conviction until seeing the leaflets. He said: "I didn't read it until I got home because I presumed it was somebody trying to sell something. "We were aware that Fr Hetherton had a past but nobody knew it was as serious as this. "A lot of people will be very shocked and I suppose they might look at him in a different light. "It's quite clear that somebody wants him out or has a vendetta against him but I don't know why they would go to these lengths because he is nearing retirement anyway." Fr Hetherton has been at Our Lady of Fatima for four years. He was previously the parish priest for St Catherine of Siena on Bristol Street when Father Richard Dinnis left following allegations that he had sexually abused a teenager. Peter Jennings, of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, said: "Fr Seamus Hetherton came to the Archdiocese of Birmingham in 2000 with the full knowledge of the authorities of the Archdiocese of Southwark and with the full support of this Diocese in order to give him a new start in his ministry. "Before making this move, Fr Hetherton fully acknowledged his error and ensured that all monies involved in the case against him were finally and fully accounted for." Mr Jennings added that Fr Hetherton was not given control of parish finances when he moved to Birmingham and had the full support of faith leaders. Dartford Magistrates Court heard in September 1998 that Fr Hetherton had put £130,000 from Holy Apostles Church into a private account, along with £70,000 of his own money. Interest He maintained that the extra interest was being used for the parish. Robert Wood, prosecuting, said: "Fr Hetherton put some personal money into the account to get a better rate of interest rather than depositing it in one of his own. "The diocese was unaware of the account, which was for parish purchases. "Fr Hetherton said the money was for the benefit of the parish. Money was put into the account from various parish accounts." Mr Wood added that Fr Hetherton had lent substantial sums to his nephew in Ireland, but that all the money had now been repaid. But Jane Humphries, defending, said: "There was no benefit gained whatsoever, private or personal. The offences were committed in order to help others, not just members of his family but parishioners." She added that £400,000 was in parish accounts when Fr Hetherton resigned his post.
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