THE Supreme Court will rule tomorrow on an appeal brought by a parishioner of Carlow Cathedral who wants to prevent the removal of the altar, altar rails, pulpit and other fittings.
Mr Sean Connolly, of Chapelstown, Co Carlow, yesterday appealed last week's High Court refusal to grant him an injunction preventing the removal of the fittings. The High Court had originally granted an interim injunction to Mr Connolly which prevented the removal of the items.
Later the opponents of the changes sought an interlocutory injunction pending a full hearing of the case, but this was turned down by the High Court last week.
The defendants are Father John Byrne, the administrator of the cathedral, and the trustees of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. Father Byrne claims the case is an attempt to fossilise the manner in which the congregation worships in the cathedral.
On January 13th Mr Justice Barron said the real issue was whether Mr Connolly could show an arguable case that, in carrying out the alterations, the defendants would be in breach of the trust under which the cathedral was held. Mr Benedict O'Flynn, counsel for Mr Connolly, said he submitted there was an arguable case to satisfy the court.