The diocese of Limerick has confirmed that it has bought a house for its former bishop, Dr Donal Murray.A spokesman confirmed the purchase, pointing out that the diocese has obligations under Canon Law to care for its clergy, including those who have retired.
“The Diocese of Limerick, in accordance with its canon law obligation to look after the wellbeing of all its clergy, retired and active, has purchased a property in Castletroy that our former Bishop Donal Murray will reside in,” the spokesman said.
Leaving his official bishop’s residence at Annacotty for the new house is the second time for Dr Murray to moved house in four years.
In 2007, the diocese sold the traditional so-called Bishop’s Palace - Kilmoyle House on the North Circular Road - for the more modest Annacotty house.
It is understood the diocese netted €26 million for the bishop’s palace and its two and a half hectare site from property investor Aidan Brooks and paid €700,000 for the Annacotty house at the height of the property boom.
The 1970s-built, three-bedroom family home in the Castleville area, into which Dr Murray moves, was purchased for €300,000, but would have cost €500,000 euro some years ago.
Bishop Murray stepped down in the wake of criticism of his handling of clerical sex abuse cases when he was auxiliary bishop of Dublin, a post he held before his appointment to the Limerick diocese.
Meanwhile, the buyer of the former diocesan palace subsequently lodged a planning application for a nursing home, dementia unit and retirement homes at the site.
The project includes a 60-bedroom nursing home; 10 bedroom dementia unit and 52 retirement homes with a communal pavilion and security lodge.
The finance manager of Limerick diocese subsequently revealed that before selling, the diocese had considered developing a similar type facility on the property.
Mr Tony Sadlier said that many parishioners had suggested it in view of the fact that the area had an aging population and such a facility was needed.
"At the end of the day, we are not developers and decided to sell it on, but we very much support what is happening," he remarked.