Cleric accused of booby-trapping presbytery

The Bishop of Motherwell has told a sheriff court that a priest “booby-trapped” a church house following attempts to evict him, writes Brian Morton.

Bishop Joseph Toal told Hamilton Sheriff Court that Fr Despard had been asked to leave the house after his suspension over the publication of a book alleging a “gay mafia” existed in the Scottish Catholic Church. When Fr Despard refused to leave the church attached to St John Ogilvie in High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, a civil action was brought against him. Following his suspension, Fr Despard was replaced by Fr William Nolan, who experienced difficulty accessing the house. In January this year, Fr Nolan found a hidden device, believed to have contained curry powder. Bishop Toal told the court: “My memory is that there was some door that, once you got it open, some sort of liquid or powder would come down on the person who opened it.” He stated that he had written to Fr Despard at the time and said: “I thought that he would have been involved.” Fr Despard declined to quit the property, leading to the diocese bringing the civil action. The case continues.