Rebel Bishop Pat Buckley is set to launch a final broadside against the Catholic church – from beyond the grave.
The Sunday World can reveal that the late Bishop Buckley’s husband is refusing to leave their Larne palace and is determined to battle the church hierarchy in court.
And Eduardo Yango says he is following the advice Pat gave him before he died three months ago aged 72.
Bishop Buckley and his then 32-year-old Filipino-born husband moved into the Catholic-owned palace at Princes Gardens after they married in 2010.
But when Church lawyers began legal proceedings against Buckley in an effort to force him out, he went to court claiming squatters’ rights – and he won.
And the judge ruled that Buckley’s estate should have access to the property for a full three months after his death.But earlier this month, lawyers for the Diocese of Down and Connor wrote to Bishop Buckley’s widowed husband Eduardo demanding he left the house by last Saturday.
The solicitors’ letter also warned Eduardo that if he failed to comply with the terms of their request, then Bishop Buckley’s estate may be liable for the costs of any future legal action.
The Sunday World contacted the legal firm this week asking to speak with the senior partner who signed the letter in connection with Buckley’s former home.
We left a contact number, but the church’s legal representative declined to return our call.
Last night, Eduardo told the Sunday World he has no intention of complying with the demands.
And he insists he is prepared to go to court if necessary.
He said: “Pat and I were sitting chatting one night, shortly after he won his squatters’ rights case against the church.
“Pat was delighted and he told me that one day I would have to follow in his footsteps and do the same.
“He looked at me as he raised his glass of brandy and said, ‘You will win. You will win. Don’t worry’.”
Eduardo explained the difficulties he faced trying to find a solicitor in Northern Ireland who was prepared to take his case.
“I approached many legal firms, but as soon as they heard I was taking on the Catholic Church, they didn’t want to know.
“One night I was praying to Pat asking for guidance. And the next time I turned on my computer, there was the name, address and phone number of a London solicitors on the screen.
“I phoned and explained my case and they told me they would be happy to represent me.”
He added: “It is like a small miracle happened and I now know Pat is looking after me from above.”
Last night, Toby England, a senior partner with Harriet and George, Legal Consultants in London, who specialise in property disputes, confirmed to us he was representing Eduardo in his dispute with the Diocese of Down and Connor.
He said: “If gay marriage is legal in Northern Ireland — and we know it is — then Eduardo is the legal husband of Patrick Buckley.
“And if Patrick Buckley was granted a licence to live in the property and that licence only covers him and there’s no mention of Eduardo in the licence at all, then surely he should have had his own tenancy agreement.
“If Eduardo doesn’t have a tenancy agreement, then his tenancy agreement is implied, because he’s been there for nearly 14 years.
“Of course it is implied. He looks after the house, he looks after the garden and everything else connected with the property.
“He is the caretaker and the owners have allowed him to do all of those chores unpaid, so where is his tenancy agreement? They can’t evict Eduardo without one.
“They’d need to take him to court and find a very good reason to convince a judge to make him homeless,” said the top lawyer.
He added: “ I instructed a senior barrister to write to the church’s lawyers, but as of today, they haven’t replied. But be assured, we represent Mr Eduardo Yanga.”
County Offaly-born priest Pat Buckley split the Catholic Church when he was excommunicated nearly 40 years ago.
And after several public rows with the then Catholic leader in Ireland, Cardinal Cahal Daly, Fr Buckley set up his own independent version of the Church at the Oratory at 6 Princes Gardens in Larne.
He had previously served as parish priest in the ferry-port town.
Buckley was later installed as bishop of the tiny sect. And he continued to officiate at weddings, funerals and other religious services from a converted stable at the rear of the substantial semi-villa property.
The rebel priest specialised in offering wedding ceremonies for previously divorced Catholics, same-sex couples and services for members of travelling community.
In one famous incident, Bishop Buckley even agreed to marry a Belfast couple, with their two cats acting as witnesses.