Diocese removes priest from duties

November 1995

A priest in the Diocese of Ferns has been effectively suspended from officiating at all church duties including Mass, baptisms, funerals, and confessions, it was revealed this week.

The Diocesan Vicar for Communications, Fr Walter Forde, confirmed on Tuesday that Fr Sean Fortune, who has been on administrative leave from his Ballymurn Parish since March, is not currently allowed to officiate at the sacraments. Fr Forde said there was ‘no question’ of Fr Fortune ministering at any official Church service.

Fr Fortune was previously one of the highest profile curates in the Diocese, broadcasting regularly on South East Radio as part of the Christian Media Trust, the church-owned broadcasting company.

Fr Fortune, a native of Gorey, served in a number of areas following his ordination in 1979 and also spent some time in London.

On his return to the Diocese of Ferns he was appointed by Bishop Brendan Comiskey to Ballymurn, a curacy in the Crossabeg parish.

Fr Fortune continued to carry on duties outside the diocese as well as his duties in Ballymurn, and was involved in a number of educational courses in Dublin.

In Ballymurn itself, he established a number of parish groups and was extremely popular with certain sections of the parish.

He established new committees and was responsible for securing substantial FÁS funding for the parish. He also worked to help improve Ballymurn’s rating in the national Tidy Towns competition.

When he began his administrative leave in March, Bishop Brendan Comiskey paid warm tribute to the curate. In a letter read at Masses in Ballymurn Church by the Parish Priest, Fr. Michael McCarthy, the bishop said he was sure the people of Ballymurn would join him in thanking Fr Fortune and expressing appreciation for all the good he had accomplished.

Recently the priest has spent some time in hospital, but his current whereabouts are unknown, and sources say he has not been in contact with the Diocese ‘for some time’.