[bbfan1991]

An internal investigation has been launched by the Catholic Church after a priest accidentally showed gay porn images during a presentation at a school.

BBC News reports that Father Martin McVeigh of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland was meant to be giving a presentation to a group of parents - with one child also present - in a Pomeroy primary school about the children's First Holy Communion.

However, after plugging a USB memory stick into his computer, 16 images of men in compromising positions appeared on screen.

"He was visibly shaken and flustered," said parents at St Mary's School afterwards. "He gave no explanation or apology to the group and bolted out of the room. The co-ordinator and the teachers then continued with the presentation.

"Twenty minutes later he returned, he continued with the meeting and wrapped up by saying that the children get lots of money for their Holy Communion and should consider giving some of it to the church."

Cardinal Sean Brady, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, released a statement on Monday, saying: "Inappropriate imagery was inadvertently shown by a priest at the beginning of a Powerpoint presentation, causing concern to those present.

"This was immediately removed from the screen. The priest has stated that he had no knowledge of the offending imagery. The archdiocese immediately sought the advice of the PSNI who indicated that, on the basis of the evidence available, no crime had been committed.

"The priest is co-operating with an investigation of the matter on the part of the archdiocese."

[Marc]

Should we be surprised?

[Novo]

Just a normal day for a Catholic Priest

[Black Dagger]

Now that is an assembly I may have paid attention to.

[bbfan1991]

Up to no good as per...

[Redway]

Oh, wow.

[InOne]

Looks like he's off to Africa then.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by InOne

Looks like he's off to Africa then.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Black Dagger

Now that is an assembly I may have paid attention to.

Why?

-innocent and naive-

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by Marc

Why?

-innocent and naive-

Because I'm sure the priest had a stunning voice

-Compulsive liar-

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by InOne

Looks like he's off to Africa then.

Nope.

[bbfan1991]

That Ashley in Emmerdale is a right one.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by Chewy

Nope.

Where's that, looks terribly depressing.

[MTVN]

"He gave no explanation or apology to the group and bolted out of the room"

[Me. I Am Salman]

Knob much? :/
(pardon the irony)

[Me. I Am Salman]

Knob much? :/
(pardon the irony)

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by InOne

Where's that, looks terribly depressing.

A little clue

[InOne]

Originally Posted by Chewy

A little clue

Ohhhh haha Didn't recognise it

[Shaun]

Gobsmacked

The lord works in mysterious gays.

[Benjamin]

Lol, not like he has committed a crime, but that must have been highly embarrassing.

[Mrluvaluva]

I read this a couple of days ago and I thought to myself "oh yeah, wrong memory stick out of pocket". Lol. I think he made himself look highly guilty.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

The lord works in mysterious gays.

[Mrluvaluva]

A Catholic priest who "inadvertently" showed indecent images during a presentation at a primary school in County Tyrone has asked to take sabbatical leave.

Father Martin McVeigh projected the images onto a screen during a meeting for parents in Pomeroy in preparation for First Holy Communion on 26 March.

One child was present. Parents said 16 indecent images of men were displayed.

The priest said he had no knowledge of the offending imagery.

The incident occurred during a meeting at St Mary's School in Pomeroy.

In a statement which was read out to parishioners on Sunday, Fr McVeigh said he had asked Cardinal Sean Brady to allow him to leave the parish of Pomeroy and to take sabbatical leave.

He said the last month had been "the most difficult of my life".

"I deeply regret my failure to check, in advance, my presentation," he said.

The priest explained how he had immediately removed the memory stick from the laptop.

"In my shock and upset and in my concern to ensure that the images would never be shown again, I destroyed it later that evening," he added.

Fr McVeigh reiterated his innocence and said he recognised the incident "was very serious in nature" and had "caused much anxiety and distress".

"I apologise unreservedly for the hurt caused," he said.

"I want to assure you however, that I was not responsible for the presence of the offending images and in this respect I ask you to accept my innocence."

Cardinal Brady said he had agreed to the request for leave on the understanding that Fr McVeigh would return to the diocese.

He said the diocese would now work to ensure that procedures and policies were put in place for the proper monitoring and use of computers in parishes.

Cardinal Brady also explained that there had been an investigation into the computers used by Fr McVeigh.

"These have been forensically examined by an independent technical expert and no inappropriate imagery has been found," he said.

"However an additional laptop, which was located in the sacristy, was stolen in the period following the 26 March meeting with parents.

"This stolen laptop did not form part the technical examination and its theft was reported to the PSNI."


BBC


This story reminds me of Sir Norman in Little Britain. "I met two men, Carlos and Eduardo, who invited me into their cubicle to talk about government policy, Unfortunately I slipped on the wet floor, my clothes fell off and I became sandwiched between the two men. As far as we are concerned that is the end of the matter."

[arista]

Originally Posted by Novo

Just a normal day for a Catholic Priest

Bang On Right