Priest on the run

[Sheik Yir Erse]

but does seem a bit strange that a priest wouldn't have advised her to get a relative or someone she has known for years to be power of attorney.

Bobbie - agree to a certain extent, but equally Katherine may have said to the priest "I would like you to be my PoA as I don't really have any family apart from my niece, who's a bit of a money grabber if you ask me!" This would of course be an alleged conversation! However I know people who have PoA's over others affairs and the primary reason is they are NOT part of the family

Would agree with Jock, it's not a simple process. Having been through this process personally, it is likely that she would have to sit down with a lawyer and convince them she is of sound mind to make the decision, and that no undue influence has been placed upon her.

Thankfully there are safeguards in place.

[petewick]

I see that the poor lady passed away, according to todays Record.


petewick

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Absolutely tragic!

The Daily Record......

With the priest out of the picture, Catherine's niece Morag O'Halloran, of Irvine, Ayrshire, immediately had her moved from hospital, where she was taken after a stroke, to a nursing home where she would be near her family. But just hours after arriving at the Arran View home in Saltcoats on Thursday, Catherine slipped away

Wonder if Ms O'Halloran is feeling a bit guilty now?

[Sweltered]

I must be missing something here, the insinuations are flying, about the niece, yet the priest, who allegedly hightailed it to Pakistan when questions are asked seems to be above reproach. People jumping to his defence left right and centre, yet when the niece steps in to deal with it. she is castigated. I would love for someone to let me know why this is the case. I know it's a great trait to see the worst in people, but priests seem to be immune...

Why should she feel guilty, an old Aunt was allegedly being taken advantage of, and she did what she thought was best. I hope the Priest feels guilty, ultimately he caused all this NOT Ms O'Halloran

[Ship called Dignity]

Why should she feel guilty, an old Aunt was allegedly being taken advantage of, and she did what she thought was best. I hope the Priest feels guilty, ultimately he caused all this NOT Ms O'Halloran

Caused what? If Mrs O'Neill wanting her, so talked about and loved niece, to be Power of Attorney why did she not ask her?

I am not defending the Priest either but you can't just become someones power of attorney over night!

[Beachcomber]

I am not defending the Priest either but you can't just become someones power of attorney over night!

All I know about this story is what I read in yesterday's Courier. The crux of the matter seems to be whether the old lady was mentally fit to grant power of attorney to anyone, given that she was suffering from dementia following a stroke. Ditto for the house on Barra that she allegedly gifted to the priest.

At first reading it does smell of corruption, in that the priest took advantage of the old lady's state of mind to take control of her affairs.

It would be interesting to know who witnessed the old lady's signature on the power of attorney, and so testifying that she was in a fit state of mind at the time.

[Sweltered]

From what has been reported, and I have not seen any retraction from the Diocese, he was told to revoke the PoA etc, and he did not. If he had done so, every thing that ocurred since may not have happened. It's not beyond the possibility that the Priest talked her into giving him the PoA, this kind of scenario happens all the time, there have been numerous cases of lawyers, doctors and clergymen convincing elderly people to sign over their assets. People give huge amounts of money to the church, without asking relatives all the time.

[Nomad]

as usual, people read more into a story than they know. Father Azad always goes home around this time to see his family (who wouldn't when they are thousands of miles away from their kin)- he did not "run away" as alleged. To get POA it needs to witnessed by someone. and it's not something that can be done over night. As i remember Katherine she was very devout and it is not surprising that she would have asked for her spiritual advisor to look after her affairs. If her niece was so concerned why did she not move her to a nursing home sooner??

[Trapper]

the priest, who allegedly hightailed it to Pakistan when questions are asked

He's on his annual leave which has been organised for months, and had signed over power of attorney before he left.

Gutter journalism, nothing else.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

If her niece was so concerned why did she not move her to a nursing home sooner??

Just curious, but did she have the legal power to do that, since someone else had power of attorney?

[Nomad]

If her niece was so concerned why did she not move her to a nursing home sooner??

Just curious, but did she have the legal power to do that, since someone else had power of attorney?

can;t answer that. perhaps i should have rephrased it as "If her niece was so concerned why did she not cause a fuss before now".

[bill]

Is there any update on this story?

Has Father Azad returned to the the town?

[Trapper]

Yes. He returned to the town after his annual leave, as you would expect, and has been here serving the community since.