Controversial priest ‘not under penalty or punishment’

The prior provincial of the Augustinian community in Ireland, Fr John Hennebry has insisted Fr Iggy O’Donovan is “not under any penalty or punishment”, as he begins a year-long sabbatical in Limerick.

It emerged yesterday that a complaint had been made about Fr Iggy after he allowed parents of a baby to pour water on their son’s head during his baptism.

Another priest from the diocese said the child had to be baptised a second time, an event Fr Hennebry called “a most unusual event”. He added: ” I have never heard of it before. The baptism of a child is not something to play around with.”