Seminarian accused of destroying GLB posters

Terence Callaghan

It has emerged that on the 6th of December last, a seminarian from St. Pats was found tearing down a poster for an event of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual society. The incident was first reported to Declan Doody, Co-President of the GLB and St. Pats post-grad student. He was approached by a student that recognised Doody as one of the GLB Presidents. She informed Doody that she had earlier witnessed a person she personally knew to be a seminarian, taking down posters that were advertising the GLB Christmas party that was due to be held the following week. She told Doody that when she approached him to question his actions he responded with by saying that “they don’t belong in Maynooth, as St. Pats owns the land” and added that they were, “offensive”, “belittled [his] faith” and “wrong”.
Doody then went to the SU offices, where he lodged a complaint with SU Finance Officer Oisin O'Reilly which was passed on to SU President Amanda O’Hara. After discussing the complaint with Mr.O’Reilly it was decided that the job of writing an official letter would be left to the GLB. The decision was made due to the fact that the society felt so strongly on the issue. However, due to the Christmas break and exams, the e-mail informing the GLB of the decision was not received until early February. Amanda has said that she awaits the response from Monsignor Dermot Farrell (president of Maynooth College). If the response is not satisfactory, then the SU will step in and take appropriate action. As of the time of this paper going to print, the letter was being drafted by GLB co-presidents Max McLaughlin-Callan and Declan Doody. As of yet, no official response has been issued by St. Pats.

This event has had a demoralising effect on the GLB, because time, effort and money put into organising and advertising events on campus is going to waste on a regular basis. Mr. Doody revealed that the society does not advertise on the south campus, as posters were being removed within a day or two of them being put up. He also commented that posters regularly carry graffiti with phrases such as “Fag” and “Fanny basher”. On this particular incident Doody said of St. Pats “It’s offensive and depressing to know that there is a group of people that don’t consider you as their equal”.

This is, of course, not the first run in St. Pats and the GLB society has had.
Indeed up until 1997 St. Pats blocked the society’s official ratification, which only came with the Universities Act of the same year and the separation of Maynooth College and NUIM.

Monsignor Farrell's office were asked if they would like to comment on the incident. They did not reply to the Advocate.