Sunday 3 September 2017

PRIEST LEAVES HALF MILLION IN HIS WILL

Image result for father eoghan haughey

Charlie Haughey’s brother leaves €455,000

Fr Eoghan Haughey, an Oblate priest and the final surviving sibling of former Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey to die, has left €454,530 in his will. Fr Haughey, of Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin died on October 7, 2016 at the age of 82. (Sunday Independent)

The strange thing about Father Haughey leaving Euro 454,530 in his will was that he had a SOLEMN VOW OF POVERTY as a member of the religious order called the Oblates of the Immaculate Heart of Mary whose main house in Ireland is at Inchicore in Dublin.

Priests, Brothers and Nuns who are members of religious orders are not supposed to own anything - not even a pencil, The rule is that EVERYTHING you have is owned by the religious order and you have to hand everything over to them.

Members of religious orders are not supposed to have private bank accounts or credit cards.

So how did Father Haughey get Euro 500,000?


Image result for half a million euros

I think that this is a parable of the decline of the Religious Life in our time.

We know that religious take vows of chastity - but we also know that many of them (maybe most of them?) enjoy full sex lives with each other and with lay men and women.

And in this day and age the vow of poverty is a bit of a laugh.

You take a vow of poverty and you have:

1. No bills to pay ever.

2. All the food, drink etc that you want.

3. A roof over your head with no mortgage, rent, bills, repairs etc.

4. The use of a car with no bills for hire purchase, tax, insurance or repairs.

5. Holidays and holiday money provided.

6. All the university courses and study you desire.

7. Sabbaticals and breaks when you want.

8. A very cushy job - with little or no manual effort.

9. Private health insurance. 

10. All the sex you want - once you keep it under wraps.

11. No need for a Funeral Plan and a guaranteed "heroes" send away.


I imagine that there are many people out there who would be willing to take a meaningless Vow of Poverty to be set up like that for life.

I'm reminded of the story of the American Catholic Diocese who organized a week long conference in a 5 star hotel on the theme: POVERTY.

On the Friday night three old monsignors were having cognac and cigars on a balcony when one said to the other two:

"If this was the one on poverty - I can't wait for the one on chastity".

Image result for priests and money


The next time a collection plate is put in front of you at Mass remember Father Haughey's  HALF MILLION.

Keep your hands in your pocket and when Mass is over go out on the street and find a homeless person and bring them to McDonalds for a meal.



Image result for feeding a hungry person


68 comments:

  1. Pat, isn't he very like his late brother, the Taoiseach? At least it's not Priest Leaves. There are so many of them leaving for various reasons. Pat, Fr Relihan in Cork who left was the best looking priest in the country. The photograph of him you used to put up in his clerical collar got me all flustered. I don't care who hears me saying it, he was Drop Dead Gorgeous. It's a shame he's left. I'd have moved to Cork for mass. I would!

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    1. I don't know why but you seem to be obsessed with Fr. Relihan, it's not the first time you have mentioned him here. I have heard him say Mass a few times, recieved Holy Communion from him and heard him give a wonderful homily on vocations, so it saddens me profoundly to think he may have turned his back on his priesthood. You don't know the facts so leave him alone and say a prayer for him, quit posting disgusting comments about him at least.

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    2. I know at least some of the facts and perhaps all of them.

      He is no longer an active priest.

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    3. He was otherwise active while an active cleric. It caught up with him and he got 'Creaned' for it. He didn't turn his back on priesthood, rather he was informed what was not acceptable in Cloyne...

      But what was not acceptable was.. the reality that a former play mate told Crean that if Pat Relihan wasn't made do the honourable thing then Crean would be exposed for sheltering him so Crean didn't shelter him. Without the risk of exposure Pat Relihan might still have his dual activity status.

      Signed - One not far from Cloyne.

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  2. Well said Pat.
    While it may have always been latent, given your father's trade union background, I like your articulation, as suggested by others, of the "don't subscribe/pay up to the RC church fund", and alternatively take a more direct action to help those in need.
    As a life long socialist, of course I'm committed to this perspective.
    But in saying this, I assure that I'm very 'hard headed', and certainly no soft touch!
    MMM

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    1. MMM, That is all good.

      I'm a bit hard headed to in certain situations and have lots of callers to my door. I generally offer to make a cuppa and a sandwich or give a bag of food.

      But sometimes I allow myself to be a soft touch in honour of ALL those who have helped me in my life - and from my perspective as a believer - in honour of Big G who has a soft spot in his heart for me :-)

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  3. When I was a seminarian in Rome I had no expenses whatsoever. Three gourmet meals a day, visits to beautiful cities (the excursions were called 'gita'). I also heard the joke that if this is poverty I can't wait for chastity.


    I was sent for Italian language studies to Assisi. I ate the best food in my life ever in the Franciscan friary there (the Sacro Convento). Google it. The refectory is beautiful and huge. The excellent food was served by Franciscan novices on roller skates.

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    1. 00.40 Its hard to pray on an empty stomach some might say. The Italians like their food.

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  4. The reason why Fr Haughey had that amount of his share of the Haughey inheritance money still intact in trust was because he spent a frugal amount on himself on a day to day basis. This may have been because his Oblate Order lives very simply.

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  5. I am not that surprised because there was plenty of money in the Haughey family years ago but Fr Haughey was anything but a spendthrift. I am not surprised to hear the money is still intact and hope it will go towards some good cause or situation where there is genuine need.

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    1. Would the order not have claim on it considering he was obliged to hand it over while alive?

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    2. A will is a public document and may easily be accessed for the paymwnt of a small sum.

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  6. Blimey, I don't think I'll ever have that amount of money in the oul bank account in my entire life. But hey, Lets not go down the dangerous road of judging here people, judge and you'll be judged by the same measure you give. The good news is the Almighty One is merciful and kind. The man deserves respect. Lighten up

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  7. There is biblical justice here somewhere. I can only imagine the cash links back to cheeky charlie the tea shock. I met Charley once as a young lad at a funeral of a Garda in castlerea who was sadly shot in the line of duty. I said hello to him and was curtly dismissed. You cant take it with you. Wherever the money is I hope it does some good.

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  8. Wonder if he had many girlfriends

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  9. 9.50 Im sure he had friends who were female-strange if he hadnt. Although we hear much wrongdoing alleged and otherwise on here, not every priest is a perv or a weirdo.

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  10. I have been in a relationship with a member of a religious order for several years. His father passed away before I met him, causing him and his siblings to inherit quite large amounts. This remained unused until he met me, and since then has been put towards holidays, Christmas and birthday celebrations etc. He recently informed me that he has written a document requesting that it be passed to me if he dies before leaving (our plan is to marry, as soon as it becomes practically viable). He has never been a spendthrift, and always upheld his vows before we came together. But as times change, he is naturally wanting to plan for a different future, away from the Order.

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  11. So why doesn't he just leave. ?
    What's holding him up?

    Is he lacking in courage ?

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    1. "Is he lacking in courage?" - No, he's not lacking in courage.. Keeping his options open, I'd say! Or what is commonly known in the vernacular as "stringing her along"

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    2. In fact, he is ready to leave any day, but it is because I am still studying for my PhD, that we are unable to live together. Don't be too quick to judge every priest in a relationship as being a dishonourable and unscrupulous cad. And I don't recall referring to my gender as female!

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    3. 20:29, your lover willingly took vows; he should honour them. Easy for me to say, I know. But he did WILLINGLY take them.

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  12. Most orders don't allow private money
    Is he disobeying his order by holding on to it?
    Soalready he is a hypocrite.

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    1. Please don't rush into judgement when you don't know what arrangements and small print on documents existed... You simply declare "... already he is a hypocrite"
      Come on! - -you should have learned that "beginner" lesson by now!

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    2. Yes, you are right @16.01

      It never fails to amaze me how people always seek to disparage and rush into putting the worst spin on things even when they have little or no real knowledge of the person. It does become a bit predictable and tedious--a blog habit for some.

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  13. Interesting blog, poses the question, "What is the greater obligation, obedience to the conscientiously discerned will of God, or obligation to one's Order and superior?" If one has serious doubts about the integrity of said, is there not a moral and religious duty to withhold monies / goods received in a personal capacity? If these doubts lead a person to feel they have no alternative but to try and fashion a life for themselves outside of the order, might they not need these monies to fund or assist funding this? Once settled the duty to give alms according to ones resources, materially, mentally, physically, spiritually is still incumbent as a disciple of Christ. If one has no such doubts about the integrity of one's order and superiors, one should give said gifts to the order for the pursuit of the orders apostolate and upkeep. I find myself occasionally musing on the reaction of my younger self were I able to time travel back to St. Michael's Abbey, Farnborough, England and say, "What are you doing!!! You have 3 square meals, shelter, warmth, financed days off, occasional alcohol / cigars, some good company and genuine affection from some, perhaps most. Keep your head down because one day, all this will be yours!!" (Ok, maybe not quite, but certainly as a senior professed monk, I would have had some influence, though one thinks of the senior professed monks that are not there now! So much for their influence, or perhaps they were just too ground down and disillusioned and outvoted!) Would I have been able to persuade my younger self? I doubt it, leaving aside if my perspective would have been different had I not been sexually groomed and abused by Abbot Cuthbert when he was a fellow novice, the person I was afterwards and when I left in Summer 1989, believed that homosexual activity was not ok for an rc priest / religious when one had avowed celibacy. I am not a celibate, at least as far as that means not masturbating. I get strong attractions. I have found 1 to 1 relationships ultimately unfulfilling and stifling, perhaps I am still to be surprised by the God of surprises, but one has to learn the lessons of ones life in order not to repeat hurt to self or others. I wish to be open to the dictates of love within given situations. I wish I had known about the various "Old Catholics" back then, I may well have looked closer, I did consider CofE and have attended, coming to a "Priesthood Of The People" viewpoint and deciding at that point not to convert or seek ordination there, still, today, ordained priesthood inspires me, not because ordained priesthood is necessary, but because I see it as an outward expression of one's inner offering in Christ and in solidarity with all creation, his body and blood, to God and trying to be a conduit among many, human, animal, nature etc of his / her blessing in return. I do this anyway, but the recognition of learned, wise and holy people calling, accepting and confirming you in this holy estate is the outward sign of this inward grace and would be an immense honour! Always mindful that the person to whom much is given, much is expected!

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    1. You need to get a real job.

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    2. My neighbour has a rail job. (He's a train driver)

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    3. Tom Wood wrote a long detailed post but I'm afraid I can't see the "Wood for the trees"-or should that be vice-versa?
      Tom is not the sort of man to write one word where ten would do!

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    4. Ah yes.. He did do well.. Tom had some novel ideas and got most of it written out today..
      The second draft.!

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    5. @21:39 I accept the indictment unqualified and without ambiguity! Visual acuity compromised by arboreal expanse! ;)

      Joking aside, I was talking about Richard Rohr yesterday and someone waxed lyrical on his abilities to present subjects potentially obscure in an easy to read manner, I take note, with remarkably few words! However I'm also inspired by Pierre Teilhard De Chardin who used a great deal of words! Not that I'm comparing myself to the great man, but as I have to re-read his words a number of times to more fully comprehend, I find a richness,depth and a paradoxical clarity exudes from the superficial melee! (oops I did it again!)lol

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    6. Game, set and match to you, Tom.

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    7. "Visual acuity compromised by arboreal expanse!"
      Such a way with words - - a great line, Tom!
      We were far too tough on you...

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    8. None of your business MC! It's our joke with Tom and not everything has to be one of your "battles. He didn't need to be defended as he doesn't huff(not like some!)

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  14. An Oblate of Mary Immaculate is not in Solemn Vows. He professes simple perpetual vows. The major difference between solemn and simple vows is that one in simple vows may own inheritance but not have the use of it. He can bequest goods but not use them. Someone in Solemn vows, namely one belonging to the ancient orders, the last of which is the Order Hospitallers of St John of God, may not even own goods. Fr Haughty would have inherited from his family abut not used the money. he has now bequeathed the money after death. This is a normal phenomenon. I would have thought that Bishop Pat would have known this clear distinction.

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    1. Whenever he got it why did he not hand it over then to his order?

      Does having half a million in the bank not make a bit of mockery of having a vow of poverty - simple or otherwise.

      It would be interesting to know who his heirs are.

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    2. We don't know what clause of small print existed beforehand on that Haughey inheritance - It may have been a condition (when bequeathed to Fr Haughey originally) that it was NOT to be finally given to the Order until after his death - in case it was signed away and he subsequently left the Order and wanted it. Not at all unusual.

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    3. He might have been "minding the money for Charlie and Bertie Ahearne :-)

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    4. Face it Pat, you are disparaging a deam man, cop on and inform yourself.

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    5. Fr haugheys parents came from swatragh co derry . There's still relatives living there perhaps he gave it to some of them

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    6. What's a deam man?

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  15. I see Widow Twankey's been at it again, this time in Glasgow.

    http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/09/04/cardinal-burke-offers-pontifical-high-mass-in-glasgow-parish-church/

    How many air miles must he have by now?

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  16. I watched highlights of that Mass on video. All quite theatrical, and a definite showpiece for biretta-wearing clergy.

    Did it bring the worshippers any nearer Christ? Strangely, only one that I recall mentioned the Saviour; the rest focussed on Catholic 'tradition', and its restoration.

    Falling in love with a ritual, however archaic and grand (even to the point of ostentation) is not quite the same as falling in love with Christ.

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    1. You should try falling in love with Christ yourself, MC. It would totally transform you!

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    2. How do you know? Has it totally transformed you? And in what way?

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    3. Patience please! - - - Checking my mirror.... Perhaps not quite a "total" eclipse.. mm..

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    4. I think you meant to post on another blog, 22:25.

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  17. Pat, you are speculating on this news item you picked from newspaper re: Fr. Haughey. Before you draw conclusions and infer innuendo you should, in justice and truth, establish the facts. Quite simply, it's none of your business. I thought you were a busy pastoral shepherd - how you twist any issue with a priest's bame in it to suit your nasty agenda, is outrageous. Your moral compass is crooked.

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    1. I find a priest with a vow of poverty leaving half a million shocking and newsworthy.

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  18. Pat, can you please post a link to the Sunday Independent story? I have searched and can not find any reference to it, in fact the only Google result is for the story in your blog.
    The only story I can find is from July in the Independent which talks about the Haughey family home being for sale for 400k following the death of the last remaining sibling (Eoghan).

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    1. It was in page two in the short news announcements.

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  19. Possibility number one: in 2014, on the death of his sister Maureen, Eoghan became the legal owner of the property in Belton Park, the family home of the Haughey family. If Maureen died without a will, it, and her estate, would have come to him as next of kin. He simply did nothing and passed it down the family line on his death.

    Possibility number 2: A vow-breaking hypocrite had a secret fund of nearly half a million Euro.

    We are talking about an 80 year old man, and details are thin on the ground. In the absence of facts, wouldn't the decent thing be to give this man the benefit of the doubt and assume possibility number 1?

    Pat, I'm somewhat disgusted that you instead jumped to the very worst tabloid conclusion on the basis of little knowledge. It is very unfair to try to discredit this man on the information available. You ignore 80 years of his life as a priest and try to turn something you know little about in his last two years into a parable of "the decline of religious life in our time".
    You should remove this story until you have evidence. All wills are public documents, so for a small fee you can get a copy from the Probate Office.

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    1. It's just that I NEVER before of a religious leaving half a million in his will.

      Archbishop John Charles McQuaid left £300 in his!

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    2. Was maureen not charlies wife ? She only died a few mths ago . Anything she owned would be claimed by her children . Fr owens parents hadn't any money to speak of old mrs haughey lived in a council house til she died . How a priest amassed all that money is a mystery . Did charlie give it to him to hide or has he the world record for signing mass cards . Or was it simply just resting in his account like fr ted

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    3. No, Maureen Haughey was a sister of Eoghan and Charley. She died in 2014. She was single. You make too many assumptions without facts. Your assertions are disgusting and lacking in any evidence whatsoever. You should be ashamed of yourself .
      See here for the house sale : http://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/homes/end-of-an-era-as-charles-haugheys-childhood-home-hits-the-market-for-400k-35949342.html

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    4. Was Charlie Haughey a member of the 'RA?

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    5. Anon 23.12 . Jesus wud ye lighten up Ud think I'd just slapped ur ma with a runny turd

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  20. Well articulated at 19.13. Pat should read it very, very carefully. It is quite morally disgusting that Pat should infer all such negative innuendo and judgment on Fr. Haughey about which he knows nothing except what a paper printed yesterday under Wills. Morally indefensible Pat to seek to defame and discredit a dead priest, a man who gave long years of service to the church and communities where he worked. You are losing your moral capacity. You twist stories and information to fit into your biased narrative on all matters about priests, religious and the Catholic Church. I also believe you should remove this distastefil piece today and the slur you cast over all good religious.

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  21. God be good to Archbishop McQuaid

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  22. I think we have the Catholic Right out tonight :-)

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    1. And the Fianna Fail Defender's.

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    2. Explain the Catholic Right please! It's an easy throw away pbrase as a put down when you are unable to be intelligent and cogent in defence of your ignorant views You don't always get it "right" Pat in your assessment of others. I trust when you are doing your spiritual examen or Lectio Divina, you seek God's mercy, especially when denigrating the dead. Any excuse to down priests, religious and the Church.

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    3. Pat, I am actually the furthest possible from the "Catholic Right". You display a weak response to criticism. I am starting to see that you are lacking in commitment to truth and are more focused on ignorant blaming. You have consistently failed to justify your attack on a blameless priest.
      If you want to know how much priests leave in their wills, use the PRONI online wills application. I did a quick search, and found many with much more than John Charles McQuaid. Because you have "never heard" does not make it truth... it simply means you are ignorant of the truth.
      There is no shortage of priests leaving substantial amounts... in fact, many many times the price of the average house at the time.

      Lets look at a few:
      Cardinal Joseph MacRory 1945 Effects £8284 17s
      Cardinal Patrick O’Donnell 1927 Effects £4057 17s 1d
      Cardinal Michael Logue 1925 Effects £4287 14s 0d


      Bishop Daniel Mageean 1962 £6746 9s 6d

      O'Hagan right reverend monsignor Daniel Vincent of Lurgan county Armagh parish priest and dean of Dromore died 10 November 1954 Probate Belfast 10 January to venerable James Archdeacon Fitzpatrick parish priest and reverend James Paul Burke catholic curate and Desmond O'Hagan county registrar. Effects £3365 12s. 6d.

      Sheils reverend John Francis of Carrickmannon Ballygowan county Down parish priest died 5 August 1955 at saint John's Nursing Home Crumlin Road Belfast Probate Belfast 30 August to John Wright retired civil servant and Mary Smyth married woman. Effects £4972 10s. 6d.

      McKinley Archibald very reverend canon of Parochial House Ballycastle county Antrim parish priest died 4 August 1958 Probate Belfast 25 November to reverend George Clenaghan parish priest and reverend Francis Park catholic curate. Effects £3206 3s. 1d.



      There is an exception:
      Smyth, James of Glenarm county Antrim parish priest died 25 December 1956 at Moyle Hospital Larne county Antrim Probate Belfast 8 September to reverend Leo McKeown parish priest. Effects £5.


      So, your un-researched assertions have ked you to the wrong conclusion.

      Pat, in the future please study the issue before talking bigoted shit. Really, it would help your credibility.

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    4. None of the above were religious with a vow of poverty.

      Bit of difference between 4 or 8 grand and 500 k

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    5. 23:27, you actually have proved Bishop Pat's point, but are too much of a dullard to see it.

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  23. There are good posters who come on here time and time again--at least four or five today already--reminding us with great patienceo to be fair and not rush into judgement as people did about Fr Haughey and why he had money to bequeath. They have continually tried to keep the blog balanced by exhorting us to not make uncharitable rash judgements on people and events about which we knew little or nothing. But it would seem, all to no avail! Truly it seems that some folk just want to think the worst of others. Even the old decencies about allowing the dead to rest in peace no longer seem to apply. Then there is the old chestnut that if you mention someone's good name, you will be swiftly accused of everything from "defending" to "covering up" to God knows what else! If you don't believe me have a look back through any blogs at random. As a poster put it today, the "worst spin" has to be put on everything. Very frustrating!

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