A PRIEST engaged in a tirade of abuse against the Revenue Commissioners “unreservedly” apologised for his remarks, claiming he did not know they would be published.
Fr Tadhg O’Donovan, who made a settlement of €433,475 with the Revenue, lashed out at officials following the publication of the defaulters list, branding them “the biggest shower of bastards on the planet”.
In an apology issued yesterday through the diocese of Cloyne, Fr O’Donovan withdrew “offensive” allegations against the Revenue, including a comment that he was aware of instances of suicide resulting from “treatment at the hands of the Revenue Commissioners”.
He apologised for the “intemperate tone” and “obscene language” featured in his outburst, which was published in yesterday’s Irish Daily Star as a response to his name appearing on a list of 76 tax defaulters.
The priest, a curate based in Whitechurch, in the parish of Blarney, Cork, claimed he made the remarks in the heat of the moment and was unaware that they would be published.
The 48-year-old priest had reportedly claimed that Revenue officials had timed publication of the quarterly report to follow the publication of the Dublin diocesan report “for maximum publicity”.
“I unreservedly withdraw what I said about them in relation to the timing of the publication of the list, the offensive allegation that they were responsible for suicides, the very intemperate tone and obscene language of my comments, and the statement that the Revenue Commissioners were inconsiderate and inhumane,” Fr O’Donovan said.
“I wish to apologise for the offensive remarks I made in relation to the Revenue Commissioners.
“I made these remarks in the heat of the moment and did not realise that they would be published,” he said.
The public apology followed a demand from Archbishop Dermot Clifford, apostolic administrator of the Cloyne diocese, for an apology over Fr O’Donovan’s “unacceptable” comments.
In March 2008, Fr O’Donovan was fined €6,000 at Cork District Court on 10 charges relating to his tax affairs after agreeing a separate €213,000 settlement with the Revenue over income earned from 11 properties.
Despite earning just over €30,000 a year for his priestly duties, Fr O’Donovan had an interest in 13 properties in various parts of Cork dating back to 1989.