Paul Keenan
Motion passed to save convent before sale
Dublin city councillors unanimously passed an emergency motion this week to put an immediate protection order on the Georgian-era Sisters of Charity Convent and School on Gardiner Street Upper.
The 200-year-old building has an adjoining Victorian chapel as well as several other original features, but due to an oversight, the building was never listed in the council’s Record of Protected Structures (RPS) and is currently up for sale.
After it was zoned as housing, hostel, bed and breakfast and hotel property, lead councillor Niall Ring introduced the motion in order to protect the historic structure and prevent a new owner tearing the building down.
Lee Road Shrine 65th Devotions
On the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, the 65th Annual Devotions will take place at the Lee Road Shrine, Cork.
Those attending the event have been asked to assemble near Our Lady’s Hospital Gate before 6.30pm as the road, from Wellington Bridge to the shrine, will be closed off to traffic at that time to allow for attendees to walk to the shrine reciting the rosary along the way. Mass will be celebrated at the shrine at 7.30pm by Bishop John Buckley of Cork & Ross.
Cloyne priest barred from ministry
The Vatican has permanently barred another priest of the Diocese of Cloyne from ministry, Bishop William Crean has revealed.
In 2009 two women complained to the diocese that the priest had abused them when they were minors. Although following a Garda investigation the DPP opted not to prosecute the priest, a canonical investigation found the priest guilty. Dr Crean said the priest “has received a penalty of lifelong prohibition from ministry” and has been directed by the Vatican “to lead a life of penance and prayer”.
Another Cloyne priest, Fr Dan Duane, was removed from the priesthood in 2013.
Woman pleads guilty to priest harassment
A 57-year-old Dublin woman has admitted to harassing a priest between 2005 and 2006.
Anne Fennell, of Monastery Gate Green, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Fr Desmond Byrne between October 2005 and January 2006 and in October 2006.
The court heard that Fr Byrne was blacklisted by taxi companies after Ms Fennell ordered a number of cabs to his house, as well as ordering ordered deliveries to his house of fast food he had not ordered. He changed his phone number after receiving up to 60 calls a day. The matter was adjourned until November.
SVP criticise proposed increase on electricity bills
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has informed the energy regulator that the proposed 36% increase in the Public Service Obligation Levy (PSO) on electricity bills is a fourfold increase on the 2011 level. In its response to the regulator’s latest consultation document, the SVP has warned that the proposed PSO increase will add about €90 (including VAT) a year to domestic bills.
John-Mark McCafferty, head of SVP Social Justice and Policy described the proposal as “regressive”.