A Co Wexford priest who is entering his fifth week locked inside the parochial house failed to attend religious ceremonies in his local St Leonard's church over the weekend.
Since mid-September, Father James Cashman has refused to vacate the parochial house in St Leonard's in Wexford.
With the episode now entering its fifth week there are growing fears for his safety and well-being. New curate Father Paddy Banville made the 15- mile journey from Rathangan where he is still residing to preside over religious ceremonies over the weekend. As local parishioners made their way to Mass on Sunday morning growing fears for the priest's well-being were been expressed.
The 70-year-old priest is protesting over his appointment to an outside diocese and is determined to remain on in his St. Leonard's curacy. Since the lock-in, Father Cashman has been seen outside the house on only one occasion, when he was observed in a local restaurant.
However, he has not ventured from his home in the intervening weeks and continued to remain inside the two-storey parochial house as religious ceremonies took place over the weekend.