A NEWMARKET priest, who is recovering from cancer, has been sent an anonymous poison-pen letter.Father Michael Griffin, parish priest at Newmarket Roman Catholic Church, has also received a number of abusive phone calls at his home near Newmarket, where he is recuperating after surgery for cancer.
The letter, sent to Fr Griffin's home, said: "When your surgery fails maybe we'll get someone who cares about Newmarket."
It is believed to be linked to a long-running battle by local residents to have a metal container, which they claimed was an eyesore, moved from the church site.
Fr Martin Hardy, who is standing in for Fr Griffin during his illness, said: "The letter was received after the skip was removed. We just want to put the matter to rest because it's not helpful when Fr Michael is recovering from a serious illness."
Fr Hardy said the container had been removed as a sign of goodwill on the part of the parish which was trying to keep the site in a reasonable condition until it is built on.
"We haven't sought confrontation but, unfortunately, a building site is never a beautiful thing," he added.
Fr Hardy said although Fr Griffin had found the letter very distressing, it had not been reported to the police.
Residents living in nearby Exeter Road and Rayes Lane called for the container to be removed last year as they feared it would attract vandalism, graffiti and rats.
Exeter Road resident Richard Rigby, who opposed the container, said: "The letter is quite disgusting. I don't like the idea that people would send things like this.
"When we were told he had gone into hospital we gave him our best wishes and we hope he makes a full recovery."
Donald Buckley, who lives in Rayes Lane and also fought against the container, added: "I am horrified to hear about it. Nobody should receive things like this."
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