Gardaí probe attack claims

GARDAÍ are investigating claims that a priest who is a shareholder in a county Wexford pub was punched in the face as he tried to calm a customer who had been removed from the premises for unruly behaviour.

Fr James Fitzpatrick, 30, is a curate in the parish of Ferns with direct responsibility for the Ballyduff area. He is also a shareholder and senior manager at the Courtyard pub in the village.

Gardaí are investigating a claim that Fr Fitzpatrick was assaulted outside the pub a fortnight ago by a man who had been verbally abusive towards staff inside just moments earlier.

They are also investigating a separate claim that Fr Fitzpatrick is also receiving abusive telephone calls from abroad. The calls began several weeks ago.

Fr Fitzpatrick is not believed to be the specific target of the caller. It is believed the man randomly called a Ferns priest. The diocese of Ferns has been the focus of much negative publicity recently in the wake of abuse at the hands of the late Fr Sean Fortune.

It is believed that Fr Fitzpatrick's name was simply plucked from a phone book because he administers there.

The vast majority of parishioners don't bat an eyelid at his links with the local public house.

"He is one of the hardest workers in this area," one parishioner said yesterday.

"He's a go-ahead, young and enthusiastic man a kind of a Fr Trendy. He could be serving you a pint one night, giving you communion the next.

"He's here in the village now, putting up Christmas lights with the FÁS workers and saving us thousands of euro," the parishioner said.

Fr Fitzpatrick has refused to discuss the incidents, as they are still being investigated by gardaí. Yesterday, he referred all queries on his association with the Courtyard public house to the diocesan office.

A diocesan spokesman would only say that the matter was with the bishop and that he was carrying out a "comprehensive review".

The Catholic Press Office said that it does not comment on individual cases.