Sir, - I write on behalf of the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh, concerning two assertions made by Fr Pat Buckley (May 10th).
1. Fr Buckley states that the letter from Bishop Walsh suspending him from his priestly functions was sent on June 14th, 1998. It was, in fact, sent on June 5th.
2. Fr Buckley states that when he sent this letter Bishop Walsh "knew that I had already been a bishop for a month". I have to state categorically that this is untrue.
As it happens, it was I who drew Bishop Walsh's attention to the News of the World of June 14th, 1998, in which Fr Buckley first announced, and from which Bishop Walsh first learned, that he (Fr Buckley) claimed to be a "bishop". - Yours, etc.,
John McManus, Media Liaison Officer, Diocese of Down & Connor, St Malachy's College, Belfast 15.