Scottish Christian.com

Home > News > Scottish Christian News Monitor

'Ill' priest and secret partner run pub In Spain

A priest who left his Scottish parish on health grounds is running an Irish bar in Spain with his secret partner.

Father Eugene O'Sullivan, 61, hopes to wed Fiona Aitken, 41, who he met as a young bride when he conducted her wedding in 1985.

O'Sullivan's former parishioners will be stunned by the truth about where their priest has gone. They thought he was terminally ill and planning to spend his remaining time in Ireland.

Bishop Vincent Logan had announced O'Sullivan's retiral on health grounds and wished him all the best for the future in a parish newsletter.

Parishioners even raised £3000 as a farewell present and have been saying prayers for O'Sullivan every Sunday.

Today the Sunday Mail can reveal that O'Sullivan went to Benalmadena Pueblo, a quaint village close to the resorts of Fuengirola and Torremolinos, with Forfar-born Fiona.

He has opened a bar there called Failte, Gaelic for welcome, and lives with Fiona in a £300,000 villa.

O'Sullivan told the Sunday Mail he retired because he was "burned out". And in an exclusive interview he spoke of his inner struggle with the Catholic Church's line on priests being celibate.

"The future's ahead of me. I am not leading a double life, I am just trying to be a normal person.

"The bishop accepted my resignation and wished me all the best for a new chapter in my life. There has been a big upheaval in my life and I need time to reflect and take stock.

"I met Fiona when she got married. She moved down to England to bring up her family. But we kept in touch.

"She and her husband would drop in to see me when they came back up to Scotland. She is a good friend but I have many good friends.

"Things didn't go well for her in England and she was a friend in need."

Full story at the Sunday Mail.