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	Diocese to Carry out Inquiry into Athy Incident By Lisa Deeney Leinster Leader March 3, 2010 http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Church-inquiry-into-Athy-incident.6119206.jp IRELAND -- AN incident involving a serving priest in a South Kildare parish is currently the subject of an investigation by church authorities. The Leinster Leader understands the Archbishop of Dublin has directed a "canonical investigation" into an incident that allegedly occurred on Christmas Eve last in St Michael's Parish in Athy. This investigation is ongoing and the Archbishop has referred the matter to the Diocesan Child Protection Service. The Leinster Leader understands that the alleged complaint is not connected to the issue of child sexual abuse. Speaking to the Leinster Leader, parish priest Fr Michael Murtagh declined to comment on the ongoing canonical investigation. According to local priests, there have also been a number of problems in the parish over the past six months, including an issue over a retired priest celebrating mass. This last issue is not the subject of the canonical investigation. The parish will have a visit from representatives from the Dublin archdiocese next week, requested by the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. A notice was put in its parish newsletter last week inviting parishioners to contribute to the "audit" According to Fr Murtagh the phrase "audit" was a printing error. The "visitation" is "to give people of the parish a say" said Fr Murtagh. "It takes time to get to know the parish and for people to get to know me," he said. According to a spokesperson for the Dublin Diocese: "Mgr. Gallagher and two lay people representing diocesan offices are holding a parish visitation in Athy. It is not an unusual process in the diocese, and in Athy there have been a number of issues of concern raised there in recent months. "These are being already addressed at parish and diocesan level; however, as you will appreciate it would not be appropriate to comment on individuals or individual cases, particularly when matters are ongoing. It is hoped that this week's parish visitation will allow people of the parish to address any concerns they have and look to the future development of the parish." There are problems in every parish, said Fr Murtagh. He explained the heating system in St Michael's has broken down and parts of the flat roof of the church is in disrepair. According to curate Fr Joe McDonald, who is understood not to be the subject of the investigation, he has never heard of a request for this type of a visitation before but said there has been a problems within the Athy parish for the past few months. "We did have an issue last September/October involving retired priest Fr Padraig O'Saorai celebrating morning mass. After six weeks or so it was eventually resolved and he is now back celebrating mass." Fr McDonald added: "A new parish priest was appointed and new workers appointed and when people land into new positions, it's not fair to assume they will actually work as a team. The difficulties here are administration ones." "It takes time for people to gel. That is not unusual and there are always struggles regarding new ways of management and structure." Fr McDonald added that there is a huge lack of resources regarding parish facilities. "For example there is no hall and no meeting place. The programme of the parish needs to be teased out. We need help with our own identity and our mission, and the team from Dublin are here to facilitate that." Parishioners are invited to make an appointment to speak to the visiting diocesan team by calling Ann Donnellan on 01 8373732 at ext 245.
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