Parishioners opposed to diocese decision to sell Kilcoo parochial house

Parishioners opposed to diocese decision to sell Kilcoo parochial house

2 June 2021

A GROUP of parishioners is opposing plans to sell the parochial house in Kilcoo.

The Kilcoo Parishioners Group says the Diocese of Down and Connor has no right to sell the 130 year-old house in order to pay off parish debts and carry out repairs to the nearby St Malachy’s Church.

The house, which is is currently on the market for around £160,000, has been deemed unsafe and surplus to requirements by the diocese.

The parishioners’ group have offered to pay the asking price and want to use the property as a base for community projects. However, they claim that the diocese has turned down the offer and is refusing to deal with them as an “equal partner”.

A spokesman for the group said the decision to sell followed “years of broken promises” by the diocese.

“The proposed sale has generated genuine distress among local people in Kilcoo. Despite our best efforts, the diocese has refused to engage with us as an equal partner,” he said.

“Early this year, in good faith, Kilcoo Parishioners’ Group put a plan to the Bishop’s Office offering to pay off the diocese loans on the property and take ownership of the parochial house - to be used for a variety of community projects which would be of benefit to local people.

“This was rejected by the Bishop’s Office who stated that the house would be placed on the open market and sold to the highest bidder.”

The spokesman continued: “Kilcoo Parishioners’ Group intend purchasing the Parochial House, which many people still believe the parish owns.

“We would appeal to anyone who may have an interest in purchasing the house to respect the history associated with it and the moral right of the community to own what their ancestors built and paid for.

“Please do not cause any further hostility than has already been raised by the actions of the Bishop’s Office who still refuse to meet Kilcoo Parishioners’ Group, the legitimate representatives of the Parish of Kilcoo. The property and gardens sit at the heart of our parish. We are committed to retaining and developing these for the benefit of our young and growing community.”

The spokesman explained that in 2018 it was rumoured that the diocese intended selling off the parochial hall and lands to pay off the debt still outstanding from refurbishment of the church.

“At a very well attended public meeting it was agreed no property associated with the church should be sold and that fundraising should commence to pay off the loan,” he said.

“Kilcoo Parishioners’ Group was formed with the objective of protecting the church property and addressing the payment of the loan. At this stage it was discovered that the land and buildings, previously owned by the parish, now belonged to the diocese.

“The transfer of ownership was carried out without the knowledge and consent of the local people and parishioners were genuinely shocked and concerned about the process applied to transfer the title without consultation. This led people to question if the same had happened in other parishes throughout the island of Ireland.

“However, Kilcoo Parishioners’ Group, in discussions with the Bishop’s Office, secured an agreement that if the loan was adequately addressed, there would be no requirement to sell any property. Kilcoo Parishioners’ Group naively accepted the verbal undertaking from the diocese. In a 14-month period, from January 2019 until March 2020, £25K was paid off the loan.

“In November 2020 a bombshell was ped on the parish of Kilcoo. The diocese imposed a decision on the community to sell off our parochial house and gardens to the highest bidder after years of broken promises by the Bishop’s Office.”

A spokesman for the diocese said the parochial house was “deemed unsafe for use on the grounds of health and safety” following a healthy and safety audit and inspection in 2017.

He said that the following year, the parish decided that the parochial house was surplus to its requirements.

The spokesman continued: “All reasonable steps have been taken to judge the views and expectations of parishioners in Kilcoo Parish in respect of the future use of the parochial house.”

He said the parish submitted a proposal to the diocese to sell the parochial house late last year, which the parish still viewed as still being surplus to requirements. 

He said the diocesan trustees then decided to put the property on the open market, with the intention of using the proceeds to pay off parish debt and also enable the parish to allocate funds for parish improvements to St Malachy’s Church.

The spokesman continued: “In disposing of any property, the parish is legally obliged to follow the legislation as outlined in the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 which establishes the legal framework around the management and sale of any properties held in trust, establishes conditions around the sale of properties to be divested, and details other terms of sale to ensure that the disposition of the property, held in trust, is carried out in accordance with the best interests of the charity.

“The diocesan trustees have and will continue to act in a manner fully compliant with their legal responsibilities under this regulatory framework for charities.”