Crime ruled out in fire tragedy

A fire which killed a Catholic priest was not being treated as suspicious, police said today.

A criminal investigation was launched following the discovery of Father Patrick Emmanuel, 49, at his home in Peacehaven, East Sussex.

His body was found in a first floor bathroom of The Vicarage, Horsham Lane, Peacehaven, at 2am on Friday.

A Sussex Police spokesman said today: ‘‘We are not treating this incident as suspicious. The criminal investigation side has been wound down.’’

A mass was held last night for the popular priest, known as Pat to his congregation and friends, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, situated next door to Father Pat’s house.

The service was to have been the first of many Easter services, but instead worshippers gathered to pay their respects to the Sri Lankan born clergyman forced to flee his native country due to his beliefs.

Among those to pay tribute was Father David Foley, Dean of Brighton and Hove, who said: ‘‘He was a good-hearted man who was highly educated, but more than that he was a really nice man.’’

It is thought Father Pat died from smoke inhalation as the severe blaze took hold of the detached house.

The fire was so intense that fire investigators were unsure where or how the blaze began. It destroyed the entire top floor of the building.