The Catholic diocese of Kildare and Leighlin will attempt in the High Court today to stop an action by its former diocesan secretary to put a stay on a 2002 decision by the diocese to make her redundant. The position of diocesan secretary is one of the most significant in any diocese.
Mary Sheehy (53) held the post in Kildare and Leighlin from 1974 until made redundant by the late Bishop Laurence Ryan in July 2002, following his resignation due to ill-health.
At the time she took a High Court injunction against the decision, but after a hearing, the court found in February 2004 that the diocese was within its rights in making her redundant.
Another High Court action has been initiated by Ms Sheehy, which the diocese is trying to have struck out.
The case has caused considerable controversy in the diocese with a Friends of Kildare and Leighlin Diocese group recently pledging support for Ms Sheehy in her legal actions "all the way to the [European] Court of Human Rights if warranted".
Meanwhile, the priests of Kildare and Leighlin were circulated last month by the diocesan authorities with a "strictly confidential" letter giving an account of the case to date. A copy has been seen by The Irish Times.
In response, Ms Sheehy sent priests a letter earlier this month
Seen by The Irish Times, her letter asked the priests that "before accepting as true all the 'information' given to you about my situation, you would weigh and measure what you are told against your personal - and received - experience of me over 32 years and ask yourself, does it fit."
She described previous communications about her as "both untruthful and damaging of me."