By Riazat Butt
Guardian
June 10, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/10/squatting-vicar-okechi-eviction-reprieve
A judge has denied the Church of England the power to evict a defrocked cleric who is squatting in a vicarage.
At Birmingham county court yesterday, district judge Simon Bull adjourned the hearing after questioning whether the church had rights over the property.
"It may be of inconvenience to the claimants, but if there are squatters in my neighbours' garden and my neighbours are not around, I don't have the right to take possession," he said.
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| The former West Bromwich vicar Patrick Okechi. Photo by John Giles |
Two bishops from the diocese of Lichfield were hoping to be granted the power to evict the Rev Patrick Okechi, who was sacked from his position as vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John in West Bromwich after it emerged he had been involved in an extra-marital affair.
Last December a church tribunal found the father-of-three was guilty of "conduct unbecoming to the office and work of a clerk in holy orders", but despite the ruling Okechi has failed to leave his accommodation and is instead seeking reinstatement. He did not attend yesterday's hearing and has not commented since being barred from office.
While neither bishop was present in court, a diocesan spokesman said there was disappointment at the delay. "We want to move swiftly toward the appointment of a new vicar and we need the vicarage to house the vicar," he said.
"In law, the vicarage belongs to the incumbent, the vicar. In this case, there isn't a vicar to own it and so the judge wants to ensure that, before he gives possession of the property to the bishops, the bishops do actually have the right for that.
"We have been given some time to do more legal research and we will do that, and at the next hearing we'll hopefully get the possession."
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