No Market Now for Diocesan Properties, Wexford People, March 10, 2010

"No Market" Now for Diocesan Properties

Wexford People
March 10, 2010

http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/no-market-now-for-diocesan-properties-2094652.html

THE DIOCESE has 'missed the boat' in selling high profile properties, which would have potentially made up the deficit needed to meet clerical abuse claims.

In Wexford town, the Diocese of Ferns has ownership of the Bishop's Palace in Summerhill, St. Peter's College Seminary buildings, a house in Wexford, some land on the Rosslare Road and the playing fields in Coolcotts which are currently leased to Clonard GAA.

In his letter to the parishes this week, Bishop Denis Brennan cited the sale of 'one or more of the five diocescan properties to meet all of the costs of outstanding claims and legal bills' as one of five options the Diocese has to meet its financial responsibilities to abuse victims.

However, despite being aware of pending claims, the Diocese failed to move in boom times to cash in on property values.

The crash in property markets has effectively made them unsaleable according to auctioneers.

'You'd never be able to sell the Bishop's Palace in the current market. If they came into me and put it on my books I don't think I'd have one client who would be able to buy it. There is no market for that type of property at the moment,' said one Wexford town based auctioneer this week.

Instead of seeking the sale of the Bishop's Palace, the Diocese have instead invested in the property and in February 2009 were granted planning by Wexford Borough Council to build a 19 square metre first floor extension for an additional study at the western elevation of the building. The extension was completed before the end of 2009.

Other church properties in Wexford town, including four houses in the Clonard area and the Presbytery on School Street, are not owned by the Diocese.

The four priests houses in Clonard – in Meadowvale, Clonard Park, Pinewood and the former Schoenstatt convent on Beechlawn where Fr. Denis Lennon now resides – are all in the ownership of Clonard Parish.

The Presbytery is owned by the Parish of Wexford.

Even if these properties were Bishop Brennan's to sell, auctioneers note that they'd be 'impossible to sell' in the current market.

'Who would buy the Presbytery? There's no market for that type of property and no money being loaned by the banks to developers to buy properties like that. You won't find anyone with the money to buy a place like that even it if was placed on the market,' said a local auctioneer this week.