In his statement today, Father Gerry McGinnity speaks of the rumours that "his health broke down", which have been circulating in Maynooth and elsewhere since his sudden departure from the national seminary on a year's sabbatical in 1984, and his later posting to a rural curacy at Stonebridge in Armagh diocese in 1985.
In June this year, another priest - one of the six senior seminiarians who went to Father McGinnity in 1984 for help and protection when their complaints to nine bishops about Mgr Ledwith were ignored - spoke to The Irish Times about these rumours as an illustration of what was, he felt, the cynicism being employed by Church authorities in dealing with Father McGinnity.
The priest was still a student at St Patrick's College when Father McGinnity went on sabbatical in 1984 and, despite contact with him then, was never under the impression that the former senior dean was in the throes of a nervous breakdown.
Following the Irish Episcopal Conference summer meeting this year, which took place from June 10th to 12th at Maynooth, a senior church figure repeated to The Irish Times that Father McGinnity had had a nervous breakdown in 1984 and that this was why he was sent on sabbatical that year and removed from his post as senior dean at the College in 1985.
It was then felt Father McGinnity should be asked if this was true. He was shocked at the question, but far more shocked to hear that this particular rumour had been circulating about him for 18 years. At the request of The Irish Times, he secured the letter yesterday from the Co Armagh medical practice where he has been a patient since birth on April 5th, 1947.
According to his doctors, throughout his lifetime, "there has been absolutely no record of psychological or mental problems" where Father McGinnity is concerned.
