Hi Pat,
As an Ennis native I can confirm that Joe Seery’s past was well known in the local community there.
As a local Hotel Manager, I had daily interaction with Seery who was a regular in my hotel bar. He came across as an incredibly lonely man. He would drink up to 8 brandies and port in the afternoon and would come back in the evenings and drink several bottles of beer. He came across as having a high dependency on alcohol. He was also well known for drink-driving.
One of my bar Supervisors always asked another person to serve Seery as he said he wouldn’t because Seery was a “pervert” and a “child molester”.
He moved back to Ennis around 2003 after Tuam released him on “health grounds”. He always talked about his time serving in Knock as the highest point of his career.
I was staying at a hotel in Connemara about 8 years ago and the manager there who knew me asked if I knew Seery? I said I did. He said they were always questions over his head when he was in Ballyconeely and whilst he was popular, people believe something happened to him in the past. The manager also confirmed Seery was a heavy drinker in the local pubs there.
From what I gathered, Seery died of heart failure. It was speculated by other hotel bar regulars that his alcohol abuse was a major contributor.
PAT SAYS:
I am very sad to hear that Joe Seery, a classmate, and ordained with me went on to live the life he did.
It is pretty obvious that he had deep psychosexual issues that he never addressed properly.
The Irish Daly Mail have been preparing an article about him that will appear today, Monday.
It seems that he abused in New Orleans as he was reported to the police there in 1978.
He left the US and was taken into Tuam diocese where he served in 4 parishes.
We are not certain if he abused there.
He obviously developed an alcohol problem.
Why did no one get him professional help?
Has he left victims/survivors behind.
The Archdiocese of Tuam has a lot to account for.
FATHER PIOTR DELIMAT.
Father Piotr has been living in Tralee with King Puck.
Before that, he was working in Armagh.
He was loved by some priests and seminarians in Armagh where he served.
He is now leaving Kerry to become chaplain to the hunks in the Orosh Army barracks in Sarsfield in Limerick.
I'm sure he will not disappoint the privates in Sarsfield.
MournemanMichael.
ReplyDeletePat: can you explain the relevance and intention behind the last four paragraphs above related to Fr Delimat? I ask because the final paragraph has a subliminal negative inference. And if that is intended kindly justify.
MMM
I'd second that request. Because a man was assigned to live in the same presbytery as a former questionable seminarian is no reason to make such inferences. It is most unkind.
DeleteAlso, what happened Friday's entire blog?
I was asked by a journalist from the Irish Daily Mail to remove it temporarily pending their publication on Father Seery today.
DeleteBishop Pat, I said elsewhere on your blog 'show me a grossly obese priest, and I'll show you a likely sexual deviant'.
ReplyDeleteIf you were serving this man and knew (or even suspected) that he was over the legal-alcohol limit for driving and knew that he would drive home, did you report him to An Garda Siochæna? You are morally culpable if you didn't.
00.00: Magna, produce any clinical research data to support your theory that an "obese priest" is likely to be an abuser. Let's deal with facts not fabricated theories from a pseudo psychiatric/psychological perspective. Could I not equally say that to show me an alcoholic is to show me a potentially abusive person, which may be true in many cases, but not all. Some people change for the worse under drink and many alcoholics display a kindness of heart. However, it's wrong to make any definitive theory about people without knowing all the FACTS and TRUTH. It's easy to tell when you, Magna, are under the influence of drink as your comments and behaviour descend into vulgar abuse and nasty, unacceptable poison. Incidentally, does your local publican ever prevent you from driving home after a night out?? Just askin!!
DeleteI said 'grossly' obese.
DeleteLearn to pay greater attention than a five-year-old.
20.53: Whether "grossly" obese or not, your self made theory has no credible, supportive clinical data. Fool, you stupid idiot. Get help. Get sober.
DeleteHo, ho! so funny! Remember that witty teaser of a movie, "Privates on Parade."
ReplyDeleteI think this polish priest has been visiting Fr Emlyn the CC in Cookstown.
ReplyDeletePat your name was mud last night with a few at the Magherafelt parish bingo. However, there was difficulty concentrating on the bingo numbers for many who wanted to know where they could sign the petition to get the vile Fr Gates removed.
ReplyDeleteJohn is going nowhere. He is soon to be announced as a new Canon by Archbishop Martin and it's well deserved. Magherafelt has always had a Canon as PP.
Delete@12.31. It would be typical of this Institution to promote a bully. If this is true, it is incomprehensible how any right thinking individuals could support such an Institution. It smacks of a two fingered salute to the decent parishioners of the parish.
DeleteLet's wait and see who is the more arrogant, Gates or Eamon Martin.
If he is made a Canon there will be outrage.
DeleteIf people want to sign the petition it's available after Masses next weekend in the car park areas. We had a good few signatures outside Meadowlane yesterday. Please email bishop Pat if you feel strongly.
DeleteIf John Gates is to be made Canon it better not be in Magherafelt. A jumped up wee fart not wanted here. If the cheeky brat is to be made Canon let's hope they send him to Cork. The further away he is the better for Magherafelt Parishioners. Bullies not wanted in our Church.
Delete@12.30. John Gates will not'or ever be made Canon off Magherafelt Parish. He does not deserve the shit cleaned of his shoe. The way he treats his Parishioners of Magherafelt. More fool you. Because Magherafelt will not be bullied or tolerate an ill mannered Fr.Gates. If he knows what's best for him he should have a speedy run back to where he came from. There is 1000 signatures signed for his removal already.
Delete@16.05 I signed this petition near the Lidl earlier today. It's around if you look in the right place or ask the right person. Some people from the knitting and bowling group have signed. A few teachers and former teachers also. Let's do what we can to get this horrid little Hitler out of our parish and out of our lives. The Sunday World are running a story.
DeleteLet's hope Sunday world runs Gates out next Sunday before he approaches the Church or the Altar. Gates may do what he did before went AWOL. Better for the Parishioners if he never sets eyes in this Parish again. The jungle is the best place for him. Keep up the good work with the Petition to remove Gates.
DeleteI'm sure Gates' friend will comfort him. The one driving the BMW or he might head for a seaweed bath in Newcastle Co. Down where he goes to pamper himself.
DeleteOutside Dunne Stores tomorrow is the next Petition signing for removal of Gates. Keep her lit.
DeleteWell, if Fr Piotr is going to be running around with the squaddies, then I would suggest that he needs to get a bit fitter and lose a bit of his bulk. Otherwise, he will get left behind on the battlefield, or wherever the Irish Army is serving these days - UN stuff mostly ?
ReplyDeleteHe will go in with the rank of captain on Euro 50,000 plus.
DeleteHe'll never be out the showers.
DeleteI notice that Pat has contributed to the article in today's Irish Mail re: Fr. Seery. While Pat expresses surprise at a former colleague ordainedcwith him, I have no doubt he has absolutely no concern for this deceased priest's family. All abuse stories further Pat's anti Catholic agenda.
ReplyDeleteJoe obviously had no concern for his own family when he fiddled.
Delete@12:42 . I've seen posts like this before on Pat's blog, and I really can't understand the thinking behind them. Are you saying that when evil crimes are discovered, and the perpetrator is dead, we should simply ignore everything for the sake of the family? Should everything be swept under the carpet? How could that be right?
Delete20.03: No, I'm not saying anything should be swept under any carpet. All abuse must be brought to light and uncovered. Victims/survivors must be a paramount priority. However, Pat uses all abuse by clerics as a sledgehammer to denounce anyone in clerical state and makes unfair, untrue and malicious judgments. He never, ever considers the feelings of living members of the families of abusers. I'm certain it breaks the heart of Fr. Seery's family too. Pat has zero empathy for anyone and uses information to further his anti clerical, anti church rants, all done vengefully. He is no saint or icon of virtue. God help all survivors and it is morally and ethically wrong for anyone to use the experience of another person's abuse for self aggrandizement, as Pat does. Condemn the abuse but don't abuse that experience by selfishly using it in an agenda.
DeleteCanon you say, then that says more about Eamon Martin and his exceptionally poor leadership skills. How desperate have they become to hold onto and worse promote individual like Gates. The only association he should have with the term Canon is that he should be fired.
ReplyDeleteNursey / Bunty + Longley appeared on Friday before IICSA. You can see it here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/7712/view/public-hearing-transcript-fri-16-november-2018.pdf
What I've taken from it is the following:
1. + Longley is essentially a pastoral man, who struggles a bit with trying to reconcile the management / leadership bit, the legal bit, and the pastoral bit when it comes to dealing with issues like errant priests, abuse etc.
2. Over the years there seems to have been a bit of lack of integration, communication and fluency in some of the safeguarding people and organisations, which has led to inconsistencies and misunderstandings, and some things falling through the gaps.
3. Recent audits revealed some shortcomings, which IICSA was a bit surprised at given that safeguarding has been a hot topic for many years, and these things should have been sorted out earlier.
4. Birmingham Archdiocese is beginning to become a bit more professional in its organisation and running with the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer, a layman, and the recognition that some Monsignor because he happens to be a priest and a Monsignor does not necessarily bring instant wisdom and expertise to every role.
5. IICSA seems to have been disappointed that Vinny Nichols didn't appear because of sickness, and makes the point about requiring the necessary certification to show that he is really sick, and to make sure that a new date is given to him when he will appear. And if he doesn't appear they want to know why. I suspect that the really interesting stuff and inquisition will happen when Nichols is giving evidence which, by the way, is sworn evidence in this inquiry.
6. + Longley seemed to equip himself as well as he could, given that the failings in his diocese (before he was the incumbent) have been monumental.
7. It's an interesting optic to see Archbishops and Cardinals being brought before State inquiries, and sworn, and having to give an account of themselves and their stewardship. It must be humbling and levelling for men such as this to be called to account, given that everything about the clerical culture out of which they come fails to question them or to hold them to account, except in some vague and Vatican way. Imagine someone in Westminster gainsaying Vinny ? It is right that men like this are finally made to be servants of the truth and the people. It's sad that it has taken the State to bring this about. I'm sure they have not failed to notice this and to see the sea change in the way in which the Church is perceived, made accountable and judged.
Emlyn will be deeply troubled at the thought of Fr.Piotr being in barracks with all those young warriors.
ReplyDeleteEmlyn is another good friend of John Gates.
ReplyDeleteRory Coyle was a good friend of Gates and Eamon MCCamley.
ReplyDelete