DISSIDENT Catholic bishop Pat Buckley has taken a High Court case in an attempt to secure “squatters’ rights” to the home he has lived in since his suspension from the priesthood 25 years ago.
He is seeking adverse possession of the house in Larne, Co Antrim, where members of his Oratory congregation gather to worship. He has brought a case against the Catholic diocese of Down and Connor, as the registered owners of the property where he also conducts marriages, and retired bishop Patrick Walsh.
Bishop Buckley, who represented himself at Belfast High Court yesterday, says he wants his name on the deeds so he can carry out £70,000 worth of repairs needed to the property.
With a quantity surveyor expected to be among witnesses to give evidence, the court heard that the respondents may want to carry out a house inspection. Bishop Buckley told the judge: “I have no objection. In fact, I’m quite prepared to say to him today if he lets me know when this inspection is coming, I will give him every facility.”
He said an objecting affidavit had been submitted by bishop Walsh more than a year after he had retired from his position.
Bishop Buckley, who hit the headlines over his own civil partnership last year, contended that it should have been lodged by bishop Walsh’s successor as head of the diocese, Bishop Noel Treanor. Mr Justice Deeney responded by saying that although the court had experience in “quasi-ecclesiastical” issues, his duty did not extend to canonical law.
Counsel for the respondents said bishop Walsh’s affidavit dealt with the facts of the case. He expressed reservations about any attempt to have the current bishop brought to court to be cross-examined.
A date for the trial is due to be fixed in September, when a list of all witnesses to be called is also to be provided.
Bishop Buckley was suspended as a Catholic priest in 1986 and excommunicated in 1998 following his unlawful ordination as a bishop. He describes himself as the “unofficial chaplain” to disaffected and alienated Catholics and Christians, and others, in Ireland and further afield.
Outside court he set out his reasons for seeking possession of the house where he lives with his civil partner, his sister and two Jack Russell dogs. “I am not motivated by greed or looking for profit,” he said, “but the house needed £70,000 [of work] to make it safe and in order to get a mortgage, my name has to be on the deeds.”