A PAROCHIAL house's future use is to be considered after it emerged it was where paedophile priest Fr Malachy Finnegan sexually abused a child.
Catholic parishioners were informed during Mass in Hilltown, Co Down, at the weekend that the current parish priest would no longer be staying at the parochial house at night.
The decision was made after some community members said they would refuse to attend the parochial house or recognise it as a community hub after learning of the abuse that took place there.
Finnegan, who died in 2002, was parish priest for Clonduff parish in Hilltown in the 1990s.
He has been accused of sexually abusing numerous children over several decades. He was never prosecuted.
One of his victims, Sean Faloon from the village, told BBC Spotlight he was abused by Finnegan as an altar boy from the age of 10.
He told how he was sexually abused by the priest, often in the bedroom of the parochial house, after Sunday Mass.
At Mass at the weekend, current parish priest Fr Charles Byrne told the congregation: "It has been decided that I will no longer be staying in the parochial house here at night in light of what has happened.
"It has been arranged that I will stay in the parochial house in Warrenpoint for the time being until something is sorted out here in the parish."
A Dromore diocese spokesman said several parishioners expressed their concerns to Bishop John McAreavey about the parish priest residing in the house.
"The bishop gave assurances that this would be addressed as a matter of priority," he said.
"Temporary arrangements were made within a few days and the parish priest communicated this to parishioners at the weekend.
"The future of the parochial house is matter for the parish finance council to resolve in the light of the needs of the parish including that of a new primary school."