THE CELTIC CONNECTION • OCTOBER 1995
Page 15
Priest Sparks AIDS Anxiety — Media Doubt Veracity
DUNG ARVAN, County Water-ford — On September 18, The Cork Examiner carried a report of a sermon delivered by Father Michael Kennedy, which warned the people of the area of the ease with which AIDS could be contracted, due to the alleged activities of a woman who had deliberately set out to infect as many men as possible in the area.
The authorities and media questioned the accuracy of this story and argued that the illness could not be spread as extensively as the priest claimed. Little did Father Kennedy know that when he initially spoke, his sermon would create an international news story.
The congregation was told that five young men from the locality had been diagnosed as HIV positive and a further 60 to 80 men were at risk, due to contact with one young woman from the area who had picked up the virus in London.
Last November, the girl was said to have returned to Ireland sick. In her anger, she decided to infect others. According to the priest, she claims to have had sex with between 60 and 80 young men from the Counties Waterford, Cork and Tipperary, in the six months from November 1994 to April 1995.
The media quickly sought the opinion of the health boards and wanted confirmation that there had been an increase in the number of HIV cases in the southeast region.
There was no record of any increase of AIDS and experts questioned the entire story. They argued that it would be virtually impossible for a woman with AIDS to pass on the infection to such a high proportion of her sexual partners.
After The Cork Examiner ran the story, the British press picked it up and then, The Gay Byrne Show came on air with Joe Duffy ensconced in the centre of Dungar-van, ready to interview anyone willing to talk.
The next day, Kennedy had a meeting with Bishop William Lee, and afterwards met officials of the South Eastern Health Board. That night, he spent a number of hours with three journalists who reported that he had not questioned the five youths about their sexual history or if they had shared a needle.
By the end of the week, the chief executive of the Health Board said that the board could find no evidence to support Kennedy's claim.
Contact had been made with other health boards and with AIDS clinics in Britain but confirmation that men from the area had the illness was not forthcoming. Kennedy said that all the men involved had been tested in London.
The following week, Kennedy informed reporters that he had contacted the woman involved and that she was now in a London clinic and suffering fullblown AIDS.
He said, "She is very sick and unable to talk. I have been able to keep her up-to-date and have been trying to help her in whatever way I can. Thankfully, she now has a clergyman over there, trying to console her and give her the best spiritual help that he can."
He told RTE's This Week program that he had reassured the men involved they would not be identified.
Asked about critics who said he had changed the numbers of HIV-positive men involved, Kennedy replied, "I am not going to give facts on the phone. When I came from the parish office, I was bar-raged with many journalists. I think in all the confusion, many people picked up the wrong numbers and the problem lies there, in their own confusion."
He said that he was sticking to his remarks that the woman had gone out of her way to spread
the virus. "I did not use the word vengeance. That came out of some media people.
"The girl's position was that she had come home to Ireland for a holiday, began to socialize and from there, the thing just spiralled. In the end, she was very angry and upset and as time went on, she just became irresponsible and could not care less what the consequences of her actions were going to be."
Asked about the precise numbers of men with HIV or going for tests, Kennedy said he had no clearer information.
"I said earlier that the girl told me that she had been involved with anything in the region of between 60 to 80 men. I am appealing to those who may have had contact with this girl to get medical advice from the Health Board and from the local clinics." — From The Irish Emigrant and The Irish News
Sad Loss for Edmonton Irish
On September 30, a long-time member of the Edmonton Irish Society, Joan Mary Cashman passed away peacefully at the4Ke of 64 years. Joan was born in County Cork and she leaves behind her devoted family: Two daughters Rose Mary (Garfield) Au and Finola; three sons, Sean, Liam (Andrea) and Patrick; two grandsons, Declan and Vincent Au; sister and brother-in-law, Nan and Donal Keleher in Ireland; also mourning her loss are a loving circle of friends in Edmonton and loving relatives and friends in Ireland, England and Australia.
Any Old Copies Irish Times?
Having recently absorbed three books on Michael Collins, we are motivated to further research. We would like to obtain back issues of The Irish Times since last June from any readers who may have any old copies.
Incidentally, having an Ulster voice imitate The Big Fellow from the County Cork in a film would seem to be a travesty of justice.
— Bill Cooke, Vancouver (604) 261-7879
Catholic Church Scandalized — Again
The assaults continued when the priest was moved to St. Agatha's Church, in North William Street. After one particularly vicious attack, the boy told his parents,
ish priest and the matter was referred to Monsignor Glennon. The parents were told that the matter would be taken care of.
When the matter came to light in 1974, the priest was seen by a psychiatrist who reported that he was unlikely to re-offend. Hughes continued with parish duties in Ireland and the U.S.
In an attempt to explain what is now regarded as a completely inadequate response to the at-
Put on Your Dancing Shoes
Traditional Irish Ceili at the WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac Street in Vancouver, B.C. Presented by the Vancouver Ceili Dancing Society on October 21.
Dance to live music with Border Crossing. All dances taught and no experience is necessary. Kids are welcome.
Tickets available at the door for adults at $8 and children $3. Doors open at 8:30 PM. For more information, call (604) 736-8305.
leged behaviour of Hughes, a letter was read at all masses in the Dublin Archdiocese.
In the letter, the archbishop apologized for the lack of response by the Church to allegations of child sex abuse by priests. He committed the Church to doing all it can to put better procedures and more effective guidelines in place to deal with similar cases, should they arise in future.
— The Irish Emigrant
Divorce Debate
DUBLIN — On October 2, Archbishop Desmond Connell was heard on the radio responding to allegations that he had been less than truthful in saying that the Catholic Church did not pay compensation to victims of sexual abuse by priests.
Clearly upset, the archbishop apologized to those who felt they have been misled when he spoke on RTE earlier this year. Since that time, the case of Father Payne has become public. Connell said that a loan made to Payne in 1993 to compensate his victims never entered his mind.
The next scandal involving a DUBLIN — The Government fi-priest of the Dublin Archdiocese nally published its proposed broke later the same week, when wording for the Constitutional The Irish Times carried details Referendum on Divorce. It reads of a number of very serious as- as follows: saults against an altar boy in the - A Court designated by law may early Seventies. This case was grant a dissolution of marriage sett ed out of court in 1993, when where but only where it is sat. a priest paid £50,000, plus £6,000 isfied'that. J in expenses from his own resources, to his alleged victim. i- At the date of the institution of . * *»/«-•■. the proceedings, the spouses Alan O Sullivan, now 33, have lived apart fr0m one an-claimed that he had been repeat- other for a period of/ or periods edly attacked by Father Patrick amounting to, at lease four years Hughes when he was an alter during the previous five years, boy in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, on Road, in Dublin.
Edmonton Irish Sports and Social Society
12546 - 126 Street, Edmonton Upcoming events: Wednesday October 18 Direct from Ireland — Sharon Shannon Band in concert Saturday November 4
Andy Irvine in concert Saturday October 28 Mystery Theatre Dinner
Tel: (604) 453-2249
Entertainment for October
Friday, October 27 — 9 PM-1 AM Rock Sox (Canteen) Saturday, October 28 — 9 PM-1 AM Rock Sox (Canteen) Halloween Dance • Prize for Best Costume
Entertainment for November
Friday, November 10 — 9 PM-1 AM Lone Clone (Canteen) Saturday, November 11 —9 PM-1 AM Lone Clone (Canteen)
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Colling wood Room — 1 PM Robert Stuart Smith • Dan Graham (piper) Canteen — 1 PM Larry Church
THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 48 3249 Klngiway, Vancouver, B.C. V5R 5K4
Tel: (604) 435-7733 or (604) 433-9029_4
the Navan ii- There is no reasonable prospect of a reconciliation between the spouses,
iii. Such provision as the Court considers proper having regard to the circumstances exists or will be made for the spouses,
who in turn, approached the par- any children of either or both of
them and any other person prescribed by law, and
iv. Any further conditions prescribed by law are complied with."
The Government intends spend £500,000 printing a leaflet, which will be delivered to every household, urging a "yes" vote. They will also fund the printing and distribution of one campaign letter for the anti-divorce lobby.
— The Irish Emigrant