Allegations of a ‘lockdown sex party’ that was said to have taken place in a property next to Newcastle’s St Mary’s Cathedral are now to be investigated by the Vatican, according to a report from the Sunday Times.
The heads of the Roman Catholic church are set to look into claims as part of a wider investigation into the retirement of Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, Robert Byrne, in December 2022.
The Vatican has made it clear however that this part of the investigation does not involve the former Bishop, who was not aware nor made aware of the alleged party, but rather the late Father Michael McCoy.
“A number of complaints were made by individuals within the diocese after information came to light about a sex party taking place in the priests’ living quarters attached to Newcastle cathedral,” a source told the Sunday Times.
The allegations involving McCoy are said to have taken place against the backdrop of lockdown, in place across the United Kingdom at the time the former Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral is said to have invited several members of the congregation to a ‘sex party’ next door to the place of worship. The revelations led some members of the parish to call the church “a laughing stock.”
Canon McCoy was found dead in his home on August 10, 2021 after learning he would be investigated for a ‘historic allegation’ made against him – shortly after being visited by police officers to arrange a voluntary interview. At the time, McCoy was residing in several AirBnBs but was said to have been deeply unhappy regarding his situation.