MY EMAIL TO EM
Dear Eamon,
I enclose a letter I received in the post and wanted to ask you for a comment / response.
Pat
EM TO ME
Dear Pat,
I refer to your email of earlier today, 26th August 2022, which included a copy of a letter which you received in the post.
There is no basis for the accusations set out within the letter. They are entirely without foundation, untrue and designed to simply cause scandal and upset.
I would be grateful if you could advise as to whether the author of the letter has identified themselves to you so that I can consider the legal remedies open to those identified by it.
Yours Sincerely,
Eamon
ME TO EM
Dear Eamon,
I received it anonymously in the post.
I believe it is from an Armagh priest.
I’m told it is circulating among the Armagh priests and others.
Pat
PAT SAYS,
I regularly get these kinds of letters from priests and others.
In justice and fairness I cannot just accept them at face value without supporting evidence.
In this case I emailed EM to ask him about the matter. As you can see, he completely denied the allegations in the letter – allegations of bullying.
Obviously he considered legal action against the writer – perhaps on behalf of the other person mentioned – a lay person.
I was sincerely not able to help him with the writer’s identity – as I did not know the identity.
In any event, as a journalist, I would protect my sources.
It’s very important to try and provide evidence and or witnesses whenever we make an allegation.
It is also good practice to give accused parties the right of reply.
Sadly the church and clergy often refuse to comment or engage.
In this instance, Eamon Martin is to be complimented for his swift reply.
If this was RCC practice they would encounter much less misunderstanding and criticism.
WHAT HAPPENED SCANDAL GIVING PRIESTS IN 1571
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 