The Church of Ireland has rejected renewed claims concerning parish finances during the Ven. Andrew Orr’s incumbency in west Dublin almost 20 years ago, stating that the matter was fully investigated at the time and resolved. The church says an external accountant found no evidence that Orr had misappropriated parish funds for personal gain, the Irish Times reports.
Orr, Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, was elected on 19 June as successor to the Rt Revd Dr Paul Colton, who retired in April after more than 27 years as bishop.
The allegations relate to Orr’s tenure as rector of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla, a west Dublin parish he served from 2000 to 2009. The Church of Ireland states that Orr experienced a breakdown in 2006–07, during which parish administration was adversely affected.
The Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough commissioned an external accountant to assist in examining and regularising the parish finances. The church said the investigation established that Orr had not used parish funds for personal benefit.
A Church of Ireland spokesman said Orr cooperated fully with the inquiry, including offering access to his personal accounts. The financial position was rectified, with additional supervision exercised by the Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven. David Pierpoint.
The issues have resurfaced through anonymous correspondence sent to media organisations and circulated within the Church of Ireland. Similar allegations were circulated in 2022 following Orr’s appointment as Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
The Church of Ireland described the renewed circulation of the allegations as disappointing, noting that they concern a matter investigated and resolved two decades ago. The Irish Times reported that Orr declined to comment on its enquiries.
The Electoral College for Cork, Cloyne and Ross elected Orr at its meeting in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. He will succeed Dr Colton following the canonical processes leading to his consecration.
The Church of Ireland says due diligence has been conducted at each stage of Orr’s subsequent appointments. It further states that he recovered from his illness and has undertaken almost 20 years of ministry in two dioceses since the Castleknock inquiry.The allegations were independently examined and remedied, and that no finding of personal financial wrongdoing was made against the bishop-elect.