High Court case over sit-in at Clonmel's former Friary church adjourned

Caption for photo above: Abbey House of Prayer Group members with TD Mattie McGrath outside the Four Courts in Dublin: from left: Joe Hawkins, Mattie McGrath, Pat O’Gorman, Noel Morrissey, Peter Powell and Joe McCormack.

The Abbey House of Prayer Group has vowed to continue its protest at Clonmel’s former Friary Church despite the Franciscan Order taking High Court action to compel the group to end its three week long sit-in and vacate the building.

Representatives of the voluntary group that kept the church open as the Abbey House of Prayer up to December 31, attended the High Court in Dublin on Tuesday, January 21 where the case was adjourned until this Thursday.

The prayer group has vowed to continue their protest outside the church if they are ordered by the High Court on Thursday to end their sit-in protest over the Franciscans’ decision to close the church. The group has called for mediation to resolve the dispute.

The dispute escalated last Thursday when Mr Justice David Nolan granted permission to the Franciscan Order in the High Court in Dublin to serve proceedings on the prayer group’s officers over alleged trespass on the church.

A large group of people gathered outside the Abbey Street based church last Friday, January 17 in a show of solidarity with the Abbey House of Prayer Group and to show their support for the continued operation of the church as a place of worship.

Among them were prominent local public representatives including the Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Pat English, Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy, Independent TD Mattie McGrath and several Clonmel Borough and county councillors.

Cllr English and Deputies Murphy and McGrath have expressed disappointment at the latest turn of events and have all attempted to contact the Franciscan Order with a view to opening talks and mediation.

Abbey House of Prayer Manager Pat O’Gorman told The Nationalist on Friday that the group was disappointed the Franciscans have taken such a hardline approach, which he believed reflected badly on the Order.

“All we want is for mediation to take place but they are refusing to go down that route.”

Meanwhile, the Preserve the Abbey House of Prayer petition, set up by Thomas Ryan who is involved in the campaign, was available to sign at the Main Guard in Clonmel for several hours last Saturday afternoon.

The sit-in at the church began on New Year’s Eve and was prompted by the Franciscan Order’s decision to permanently close the church from that date.

The prayer group had been allowed to keep the church open as the Abbey House of Prayer since June 2023 under a temporary caretakers agreement with the SF Trust CLG, which is the legal owner of the property and held for the benefit of the Franciscan Province of Ireland, the Order of Friars Minor and the Franciscan Brotherhood.

The Franciscans departed Clonmel six months earlier due to falling vocations. People could visit the Abbey House of Prayer daily for prayers and Mass was celebrated twice weekly.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Abbey House of Prayer Group said that while a statement from the Franciscans indicated there are no plans for the future use of the church building, the Order was following what appeared to be an urgent process to ensure its closure.

The Group said it was difficult to understand why there is such haste to close a church if there are no plans for its use.

“It is hoped that this closure will not lead to a long period of abandonment of the building and possible deterioration.”

“Apart from the significance of the church as a place of spiritual rest for the wider Clonmel community, the Friary has significant heritage value. It includes the historic Butler Tomb and the 13th Century Tower which are listed for preservation.

“It is hoped that mediation will be proposed soon and will reflect and respect the wishes of the Clonmel community,” the Group added.

The Franciscan Order was contacted for comment but hadn’t responded at the time of going to press.