THE social club at a Catholic church has lost its drinks licence because of the trouble it has caused its neighbours. Father John Ryan, parish priest at St Mary of the Crays in Old Road, Crayford, has been forced to apologise to his neighbours for not acting sooner over the problems and disturbance.
They have left one resident on anti-depressants and needing counselling.
Father Ryan was also criticised by Bexley Council's licensing sub-committee, which withdrew the club's drinks licence.
It said Father Ryan "had the ability to influence the running of the premises, but chose not to do so, even after complaints had been made".
The sub-committee heard when a new club licence had been granted in 2006, it also included use of the church hall, which fronts Old Road.
Parishioner Robert Cooper was appointed by the church to run the club and was granted the necessary licences.
Within months, residents began to complain about the noise and disturbance from the church hall, which was being hired out for functions.
Bexley Council's environmental health team, which visited and monitored the noise from the hall, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, backed residents' complaints and served a noise abatement notice in March this year.
Residents also appealed to Father Ryan to step in, but he referred them to Mr Cooper, saying it was nothing to do with him.
Alexander Saunders, who lives in Old Road, told the sub-committee he was forced to sleep in his back living room because of the noise from the church hall.
When he called Mr Cooper, after getting his number from a neighbour, he said Mr Cooper had told him to "piss off".
The sub-committee heard from Crayford neighbourhood policing sergeant Neil Stephenson, who had also been forced to apologise to residents.
Mr Cooper had alleged the complaining neighbours were harassing Father Ryan and his housekeeper, so Sgt Stephenson had written, warning residents they could be prosecuted.
He admitted neither he nor his officers had gone to Old Road at night to see the problems and when he realised the situation, he had visited the neighbours to apologise.
On behalf of the church, Tom Boshell said it accepted everything the neighbours had said.
He said it was unfortunate Mr Cooper, who has now been removed from any involvement with the club, had used the hall as a money-making concern instead of for the benefit of parishioners.
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(Source: OENS)