Payne gone from north city apartment

The convicted sex offender, Father Ivan Payne, has moved from an apartment near Dublin's Financial Services Centre, where he had been staying since his release from prison last month, it is understood.

Mr Gerry Fay, chairman of the North Wall Community Association, said "police sources" had assured him yesterday that Father Payne had gone from the apartment at Clarion Quay.

Asked to be more specific about how he knew that Father Payne had gone, he said he could only say "police sources" told him so.

"He's definitely gone, yes, gone, bingo," he said.

A number of residents from the nearby Sherriff Street and Spencer Dock areas - the Garda estimated 45 to 50 people - had marched on the apartment on Wednesday night in protest at Father Payne's presence, prompted by fears for the safety of their children.

He is said, however, to have had already gone from the apartment in the wake of reports last weekend that the Dublin archdiocese was paying €1,600 a month rent to house him there.

Ms Mary Curtin, spokeswoman for the Dublin archdiocese, was unable to confirm last night if Father Payne had gone from the apartment permanently.

"Housing him there had always been intended as a temporary arrangement and the situation is under review," she said. "He did not spend \ night there and wasn't due to be there this weekend."

Local residents who spoke to The Irish Times yesterday said no one wanted Father Payne living in the area. Several asked why the church had chosen to house him in an area "rife with kids".

Ms Carmel McCarthy, a mother of four, said she had not seen him in the area herself but had read he was there "in the paper".

Asked where she thought a convicted child abuser should live on their release from prison, she said: "On Spike Island. Is that still open? Let him play with himself there. Everybody around here is worried."

Ms Anna Heavey, who has five children aged between six and 18, said: "Yes, he has done his time, but he should've been put in a place with no children."

A number said their own children were "terrified to go out".

"My kid, Owen, is only seven," Ms Martina Butler said. "He won't go round to the shop. And he can't understand that he is a priest. He keeps saying: 'And he's a priest, ma.' I had to give him his inhaler twice last night. He is literally terrified."

She asked why Father Payne had not been accommodated in the Archbishop's Palace. Other residents, including Mr William Byrne, said the church should house convicted child sex offenders in "All Hallows, or Clonliffe College or the Archbishop's House".

"Everyone deserves a second chance after prison but," he said, referring to the fact Father Payne refused treatment in prison, "only if they make an effort. He doesn't want to get well."

His wife, Ms Rosaleen Byrne, said the church had treated North Wall residents and Father Payne unfairly. "It's not his fault he was put living there. It can't be nice for him living in a place where nobody wants him."

Mr Fay criticised the church for not telling residents Father Payne would be housed near them, saying it gave rise to a "feeding frenzy". He said: "A fear factor built up and took on a life of its own. One phone call to the residents' association would have put them right. We could have told them putting him here was not going to work. Then none of this would have arisen," he said.