Dana in hot water over fundraiser
Thursday March 23 2006
Religious Affairs
Correspondent
DANA Rosemary Scallon will perform at a "brown envelope" charity concert tomorrow in aid of the monastery which shielded the late paedophile priest, Brendan Smyth.
The decision of the singer, former presidential candidate and MEP to take part in the charity gig in Crover House Hotel in Denn on the Meath-Cavan border, has caused division among local people. Many are outraged she has given her support in raising funds for Kilnacrott Abbey, where Smyth took sanctuary when he was on the run from the RUC for paedophile crimes committed in the North.
Others believe today's priests in the Abbey of the Most Holy Trinity and St Norbert at Kilnacrott, near Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, should not be scapegoated for the sins of their late colleague. The concert is billed as being 'in aid of Kilnacrott Abbey apostolate'.
A member of the staff of the hotel told the Irish Independent: "Concert-goers will be given a brown envelope to make a voluntary contribution."
Dana said she was unaware of the reported opposition to her involvement, and said she would go ahead with the concert.
