Gowran priest resigns from road campaign

A Kilkenny priest has resigned as chair of a campaign for a pedestrian crossing outside a primary school in Gowran following a complaint by Fianna Fáil to the Bishop of Ossory.

Parents in the village of Gowran, with the support of parish priest Fr Patrick Dalton, have been lobbying for the crossing on what they say is a dangerous road in front of St Mary's National School.

Signs bearing the slogans "Our children don't matter to Fianna Fáil" and "Our children don't matter to Labour" were placed on prominent sites in the village last month after councillors from both parties allegedly failed to support the campaign at a public meeting.

Last week, a group of Fianna Fáil councillors met privately and agreed to express their concern to the Bishop of Ossory, Dr Laurence Forristal, about the priest's involvement in the campaign which they believe is an example of church interference in politics.

Labour Party councillors have avoided public comment, but are understood to be privately furious about the signs.

The issue has sparked a political row in Kilkenny as Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness, who supports "Fr Dalton's right to articulate the concerns of his community", has strongly criticised the action of "a small group within Fianna Fáil" whose "complaint to the bishop is out-rageous".

But his general election running mate, Cllr Bobby Aylward, the Fianna Fáil party whip on Kilkenny County Council, said "politics and religion should be kept apart". He had "no comment" to make about Mr McGuinness's criticism.

Fr Dalton said he had "done nothing wrong" and saw his involvement as fulfilling his "pastoral role" because "children's lives are at stake here".

He confirmed he had been called to a meeting with the bishop but said the agenda was confidential. Dr Forristal declined to comment.

The bishop requested Fr Dal- ton and the school's board of governors to "remove themselves from the conflict". The protest signs have also been removed from outside the school which is "parish property", but others remain in place. Campaign spokeswoman Nellie Brett said the group had considered removing the signs over the Christmas period as "a gesture of goodwill" but the committee had voted against this proposal.

A spokesman for the council said speed ramps, designated parking areas and signage had already been put in place at the school. The request for a pedestrian crossing would be addres- sed by a "policy proposal" to be presented to councillors in February, he added.