Priest takes time to ‘reflect’

The priest at the centre of a court case dispute with his former partner over a house that they shared has taken a leave of absence from his duties.

In a letter read out at Sunday Mass at all 22 parishes in the Diocese of Killala, Bishop John Fleming said the case of Fr Gabriel Rosbotham had caused “deep distress” in the diocese and that the priest has decided to take time to “reflect”.

“Since the court case ended, I have met with Fr Gabriel and he has decided to take some time to himself, away from the diocese, to reflect on his life, on the commitments he made and on his ministry, as well as to think about the future,” Dr Fleming said, reading the letter himself in the parish of Kilmoremoy, Co Mayo, where Fr Rosbotham is curate.