Stand-off between bishop and priest ends

A BITTER stand-off between a local bishop and a priest who has locked himself in his parish home for the past 18 months has ended.

County Wexford priest Fr Jim Cashman had refused to move from the parish of St Leonards in Ballycullane, near New Ross, and had asked the Pope and Rome to intervene in his case.

During the year-and-a-half-long wrangle, a priest appointed in his place was forced to rent a house ten miles away from the local Church.

The 71-year-old cleric’s refusal also blocked efforts by diocesan leaders to move around priests in the region as is normal practice. The aging priest has now accepted proposals by Diocesan caretaker bishop Eamonn Walsh to move on to a new station. The bishop’s office confirmed that Fr Cashman is to be transferred to the Loretto Convent in Wexford town within the next month or so.

The priest barricaded himself into the parochial house in the village of St Leonards and refused to talk to the media on the matter. He claimed he was being forced to retire, but has now agreed to leave the house and move to Wexford town.

The cleric will act as chaplain to the Loreto Convent when he relocates within the coming weeks. Fr Cashman was due to take up the new post on September 14 but has yet to completely vacate St Leonards.

Fr Cashman was not answering his phone yesterday and was not available for comment. Neither did he return a message left on his answer phone.

However, Church authorities are confident that the move is imminent. It is expected that, once he leaves the parochial house, current curate Fr Paddy Banville will take up residence in the house in St Leonards.

Fr Cashman had refused to leave the house amid fears that he was going to be relocated to a new parish outside the Diocese.