Ferns may face further €5m pay-out
But no decision has yet been taken on the possible sale of St Peter’s College or the Bishops’ Palace in Wexford, a closed meeting of the diocesan finance committee heard. Neither was there opposition from those gathered to the possible sale of either property.
The Diocese has paid out €2.8m to 17 victims of clerical sexual abuse over the past year. Three further claims made by victims are expected to be settled by Christmas, while another 16 are still outstanding.
The Ferns Inquiry into clerical sexual abuse focused on the irreparable damage caused in the region by priests such as Fr Sean Fortune, Fr Jim Grennan and others over decades. The non-statutory probe was set up following the resignation of the former Bishop of Ferns Brendan Comiskey, and his admission that he failed to deal appropriately with complaint of abuse.
The Church is now in negotiations with the Department of Education over the sale of St Peter’s seminary in Wexford town. It lies opposite the Bishop’s Palace. It is currently being used by Carlow Institute of Technology as an outreach centre.
The sale of the large, two-storey Bishop’s Palace, which is worth up to €2m, is also an option for the Diocese.
The Church also owns up to 15 acres in the parishes of Coolcotts and Kilmacow. The Diocese will inform parishioners at Masses in Ferns on Sunday of the current financial position and on the options available to it as it meets the financial demands placed on it.
Over the years, the Church has sold off assets in the region to meet various running costs.
The Diocese declined to comment officially on the situation, until parishioners have first been informed of the state of play this weekend. “We would hope to issue a statement for parishes on Sunday,” said diocesan spokesman Fr John Carroll.
