Priest At Centre Of Gay Porn Images Granted Sabbatical

The priest at the centre of a dispute over gay pornographic images has been granted a sabbatical from his parish in Co Tyrone.

Fr Martin McVeigh has been caught up in controversy since the images flashed up on a screen during a presentation to parents in Pomeroy on March 26th, at which a child was also present, in preparation for First Communion.

Speaking last month Fr McVeigh said it has been “the most difficult of my life”.

He said he had no idea how the images came to be on the memory stick he was using, that others had access to the stick and that he “deeply regretted” the incident and his failure to check the presentation in advance.

Cardinal Seán Brady had already granted Fr McVeigh temporary leave, but in a statement read to parishioners in Pomeroy at Mass yesterday, it was revealed he would be taking a longer break.

An inquiry by the diocese has been carried out.

The laptop used for the presentation has been reported to the PSNI as stolen from the parochial house since March 26th.

(H)