Clergy in Lower Killeavy parish in County Armagh have defended their position in a dispute about the interpretation of a will in which a wealthy villager left a valuable site for “the parish and parishioners”. In a statement, the Church said that upcoming court proceedings about the estate of the late Betsy Doyle were being taken not by the parish finance committee or the clergy but by the executors of Mrs Doyle’s estate, solicitor Tim Donnelly and Fr Sean McCarten.
The statement contradicted some media reports which had suggested that the Church was about to embark on a legal tussle with the local Camlough Development Committee.
It said the two executors of Mrs Doyle’s will were seeking the guidance of the court as regards the interpretation of her will.
The problem arose after Mrs Doyle, who owned a pub and undertaking business, left the 10-acre plot of land in Camlough, worth an estimated £2m to the parish and parishioners.
In her will, she left the property to her executors “in trust for the sole and absolute benefit of the parish and parishioners of Lower Killeavy”.
She went on to stipulate that the land “should be used by the church for the benefit of the parishioners such as the building of a church or the erection of a community centre”.
She gave the executors “full authority and discretion” to decide on the use of the land.
Camlough Community Association insists Mrs Doyle wanted the land to be used to build a new community centre.
In their statement, the priests clarified why a planning application had been lodged by the Church for the building of houses on the site.
They said they had were advised that the ten acre field was to be de-zoned in a new Draft Area Plan and explained that "to maintain the development potential, a planning application was submitted on their behalf simply to uphold future development potential”.
“Apparently if the land reverted to agricultural use there would be little or no possibility of building a community centre or otherwise" they said.
The statement added that the Parish Finance Committee had agreed in principle over a year ago to facilitate the building of a community centre in accordance with Mrs Doyle's wishes.
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