BishopAccountability.org
	An Irish Village Quietly Reels from Delray Priest Scandal By Paula McMahon Sun-Sentinel [Ireland] October 1, 2006 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-cireland01oct01,0,6125100.story?coll=sfla-news-palm Johnstown, County Kilkenny, Ireland -- In the small parish church of St. Kieran's, where Father John Skehan celebrated his first Mass decades ago, more than 100 faithful gathered Saturday night for Mass. This church, this village, is where Skehan, 79, grew up and visited frequently. And while it seemed almost everyone here knows of the charges that Skehan stole millions of dollars from his flock at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Delray Beach, it was not a topic to be discussed at Mass -- especially with Skehan's brother among the congregants. "Those things are better not said," said one parishioner who did not give her name or point out Skehan's brother among those in church. "His poor family -- they're good people." "His brother Paul was here tonight and I'd say most people are feeling badly for him and the family," said Rev. Frank Maher. Still, the scandal that rocked St. Vincent's Ferrer has been felt in the tiny village of Johnstown 75 miles southwest of Dublin. Locals here expressed their opinions without waiting to hear the end of questions about Skehan. But tiny Irish villages have their informal codes of conduct, and despite dozens of interviews with neighbors and friends Saturday, only Maher would agree to give his name "His family are highly regarded here and the man, anytime he was here, there were no pretensions about him," Maher said as he left St. Kieran's church after celebrating Mass. "I can tell you the man had no air of ostentation. There were no signs of affluence. He drove the family car when he visited on his holidays." Skehan, pastor at St. Vincent's for more than 40 years, and his successor, the Rev. Frank Guinan, 63, were charged last week after a Diocese of Palm Beach audit found that almost $8.7 million in offertory cash was diverted to slush funds and used to buy property in Florida and Ireland, take trips and support girlfriends. Guinan, who was forced to resign last September, is a wanted man and reportedly was on a cruise in Australia last week. Skehan posted bond and was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on Friday night. Skehan visited Johnstown about once a year to see his two retired farmer brothers, Paul and Martin, and their sister who also lives in the area. Locals remembered that Skehan often celebrated Mass in the church and at the local graveyard during those visits. The family owned a medium-sized farm in the area and also raised and raced greyhound dogs as a sideline, neighbors and Maher said. At the Skehan's farmhouse on Saturday evening, the front gate was padlocked, denying access to the house and other farm buildings. Two cars were parked outside and some of the home's windows were open. A woman in the house who answered a cell phone call made from outside the gate declined requests for an interview. "We have nothing to say on that," she said, when asked about the allegations in Florida. Johnstown is a typical rural Irish village, about a half hour from the historic city of Kilkenny. Observing the 30 mph speed limit, it takes two minutes to drive from one side of the village to the other along the main drag. Two gas stations, four or five pubs, and a few stores are scattered among the small houses. Skehan was born there in 1927 and attended St. Kiernan's seminary in Kilkenny. While law enforcement authorities in Florida say Skehan bought a pub in the area with some of the disputed money, locals and police said they did not know of it. A nearby pub is still listed under the name Skehan, but an employee and local police said the bar may once have been owned by the family but was bought by a local businessman more than 10 years ago. Father Maher urged caution in judging Skehan before the courts do. "We only know one side now," he said. "We'll wait to hear the defense because there may be things we don't know." Paula McMahon can be reached at pmcmahon@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4533.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.