A priest in Co Donegal has denied trying to influence parishioners to object to a planned commercial development on a site previously sought by the church for a car-park.
The site is alongside St Aengus Church in Burt, which was named Irish Building of the 20th Century in a competition run by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland. More than 300 local people signed a petition against the planning application saying any development would destroy the peace and privacy of the area, which is also beside the local Presbyterian church.
The issue now rests with Bord Pleanala which is due to give a decision next Tuesday. This date is likely to be put back because of delays caused by foot-and-mouth restrictions.
Joan Cavanagh and Fearghal Bonner of Curious Glass were granted planning permission by Donegal County Council to build three craft workshops on the site. They have already lost a £25,000 grant because of the delay caused by the appeal.
They say there would be no noise or pollution from the craft units and great care has been taken to ensure they would fit in architecturally. Father Michael Porter, the Catholic curate at Burt for three years, said he had hoped the issue would have been resolved before now.
The church urgently needed a car-park, he said.
St Aengus's church, which was built in 1967, is located on the main Derry to Letterkenny road and Mass-goers have to park on both sides of the busy road. It is particularly unsafe for children.
"That field was always thought of by parishioners as a possible car-park for the church," said Father Porter. The problem was "the field was wanted for two different things". Some initial discussions were held to try to reach a compromise where the church would acquire part of the site bought by Curious Glass. Father Porter denied suggestions that the church expected to get it for free.
"We never asked them to give it for nothing. Who gives you anything for nothing?" He confirmed the church had tried to buy the field from the then owners, Donegal Creameries, in 1999 but the offer was rejected and it was told it would have to make "a more commercial offer".
He said he made a number of submissions expressing concern to Donegal County Council about the proposed craft units but parishioners who lodged a formal objection and an appeal to An Bord Pleanala did so of their own accord. "There are some parishioners who would feel that nothing should go into that field and I don't have any right to tell them what to do. The idea that I would get parishioners to object is just not on, and I have certainly never asked them to do anything of that nature
Ms Cavanagh and Mr Bonner have lived in the area for six years and are based in a workshop about a mile from the church. Ms Cavanagh said they had tried to come to an arrangement with the local priests and had offered to build a car-park which they would lease to the church.
She also said they were willing to sell the church a half an acre for a car-park, but Father Porter is equally adamant that he was willing to buy part of the site. "There was nothing specific ever mentioned and no terms ever agreed," he said.
The appeal to Bord Pleanala is lodged in the name of Ms Breige Grant, who does voluntary work at the church. "It is a very beautiful and sensitive site that lies between both our churches and we feel any development, whether commercial or private, would take away from the peace and privacy," she said.
The entrance to St Aengus's church is off a side road that leads to An Grianan fort and the entrance to the craft units would also be from this road directly across from the church.
Ms Grant said that about 120 vehicles park on the road during Mass and it was "an accident waiting to happen". Any building on the site would "change the area forever". Mr Andy O'Loghlin, a local resident, said his objection had in no way been influenced by the local priests. He felt the craft units would "demean" the church.
He believed the term "craft unit" was emotive. "It is basically a factory and there would be vehicles coming and going and commercial activity."
Ms Cavanagh said she believed there was only a small number of people opposed to the development and many who signed the petition were not fully aware of the nature of the project. She said they could not afford to move to another site because they had already spent too much money on site surveys, architect's drawings and other fees.
"We shouldn't have to leave the area because of a few people - I think it is wrong what they are doing," she said.