Without commentary, I present:
AN 80-year-old retired priest allegedly bit an ear off another elderly clergyman during a violent brawl over a parking bay in their block of units.
The brawl occurred in an Australian retirement home for former priests, funded by the Catholic church.
Father Thomas Henry Byrne appeared in court yesterday charged with grievous bodily harm over the incident involving his neighbour, 81-year-old Father Thomas Joseph Cameron Smith.
According to police, after the brawl Father Byrne told Father Smith to pick up an item up on the ground.
It was not until Father Smith returned to his unit that he realised the item he had picked up and put in his pocket was his right ear.
Magistrate Greg Benn imposed strict bail conditions on Father Byrne, including not going within 10m of Father Smith, nor acting in a violent or threatening manner towards him or attempting to communicate with him.
He was released on bail to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on December 7 to allow him to seek further legal advice.
A neighbour living in the Chester Ave complex said he was “shocked” to learn about the fight yesterday.
“I was shocked because we’re all in our 80s and retired priests,” he said. “It’s very quiet, although they are always driving in and out of the complex.”
