Parish priest barred from centre for asylum seekers by owner over comments

A parish priest yesterday confirmed he has been banned from visiting a centre for asylum seekers.

Monsignor John Byrne, the parish priest of Portlaoise, Co Laois, was due to visit the Montague Hotel centre in Emo this morning with minister of state at the Department of Justice and Equality Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin.

However, Fr Byrne said he had received a phonecall from the owner of the Montague Hotel, Seán Lyons telling him he would be refused entry because of comments he had made about the centre.