PRIEST IN PRISON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 7 August 1929, Page 3

PRIEST IN PRISON

SEIZED CATTLE RESCUED

A HUHI-MINDED OFFENDER

A t-sts..! ugaiM.st the Rev. John J -'li.y,. (M LftilglllVJ, wilO VV.'IJ, etl'trged V.il.li (,',(• illegal IVSCIK! I, mm' i'Ct'.T WllCil-l/I.' .-.).•. :!!'■. tmiiiff, o- i-ai ;•• «-:'y.ed hv d.vrce lor laud/annuities, .:■. :-.ii considerable interest ;ii (ialtvuy I'ireuil Court. As bather t'ahv. \v!;..'ii. returned for trial, had refused in give bail he was hruuglil lip in custody. liiil was given a sua I ul the solicitors' labia. When 'the case whs en lied his solicitor, ..Mr O'Dea, sialyl Ihal his client agreed thai, (lie depositions were eorreel and he desired Ihal this ease should he tried without a jury. "He admits that he took ilie cattle off the bailiff Whelan," Mr O'Dea continued, "and he is prepared to abide by the consequences. Jtis one anxiety now is that no jury should be sworn, for this reason : Various sympathies have, been aroused, and my client fears that those sympathies, as well as the fact that lie is a priest, may possibly result, in even one member of the. jury straining the oath in the slightest degree. My client considers that it would be the greatest calamity that could happen in this case. His own words to me were of the extremist nature and show that Father Fahy puts truth before every other consideration. 1 request, therefore, that this case. be. dealt with without a jury and on the same basis as if the severest verdict had been returned by a jury. Judge Wyse Power sentenced Father Fahy to six weeks' imprisonment without hard labour, to date from his arrest, which meant that ho was immediately discharged.

Mr O'Dea then stated that Father Fahy had asked him most particularly not to plead any extenuating circumstances, or anything that could be. interpreted . as such. The Bishop of Clonfort has commanded Father Fahy to express regret for his action as a priest having a vow of obedience to his bishop. His client now obeyed this command and made such expression of regret. Father Fahy then left the courthouse, and as he drove away ho was cheered by some people outside.