Moment priest rides on back of motorbike spraying holy water at funeral for teen
A priest was seen riding on the back of a motorbike spraying holy water during the funeral of a teen who died in a collision with his e-bike after being followed by police.
Fr Frankie Mulgrew was seen spraying holy water from an aspergillum while sitting behind the masked motorbike rider while following the funeral cortege from St Mary's cemetery in Wardley, Greater Manchester.
The funeral was for 15-year-old Saul Cookson, from Salford, who had died in a collision with an ambulance on Langworthy Road on June, after being followed by police.
Fr Mulgrew, son of comedian Jimmy Cricket, conducted the funeral service at St James and All Souls RC Church, Salford Precinct, Pendleton, where he reportedly urged the congregation to do an act of kindness and compassion for someone by next week in memory of Saul. He told them that if they did the world would already be a better place in his memory.
During the day of the funeral, there had been fireworks thrown at a police station and a van, while a car was also set alight, during violence in the Pendleton area of Salford.
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Fr Frankie Mulgrew is seen riding on the back of a motorbike (MEN Media)
The priest sprayed holy water (MEN Media)And there were reports of up to 30 people on unauthorised motorbikes as well as a group in balaclavas and in the clip showing Fr Mulgrew there are several other motorbikes being driven by masked young men.
It comes as a police watchdog renewed its appeal for information from witnesses after the death of Saul. The case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to the involvement of officers following the e-bike, reported the Manchester Evening News.
He was with a masked rider of the motorbike (MEN Media)
The Bishop of Salford had words with the priest after the incident, it is reported (MEN Media)Two officers who were in a marked BMW X5, stopped following Saul after he passed through a set of bollards at the junction with Lower Seedley Road, police said.
One parishioner commenting on the footage of Fr Mulgrew, said: "It is the height of naivety. He’d get away with blessing the mourners with holy water, but to do it as he’s done on the back of a bike that possibly had been or went on to cause trouble beggars belief. It was bloody stupid and sacrilegious."
The funeral was for teenager Saul Cookson (MEN Media)Since the footage emerged the Bishop of Salford, Bishop John Arnold, has also had words with Fr Mulgrew.
A Diocese of Salford Spokesperson said: "On Tuesday 11 July following a funeral, one of our clergy blessed funeralgoers who had been in attendance. The blessing took place on the back of an off-road bike. At the time he viewed this interaction as a gesture of outreach.
"The way this blessing took place is not what we would expect from a member of our clergy and conversations have already taken place regarding the incident. We do not condone under any circumstances the anti-social behaviour that took place in the local community that day.
A car was set on fire during acts of violence during the day (MEN Media)"We will continue to work in this community as we do across Greater Manchester with all the local agencies to support community cohesion."
Fr Mulgrew is celebrating his tenth anniversary at St James this week. In a message on the church's Facebook page he said: "I really love the weekend masses, its great to be with the parish family, with children, teenagers, and all the parishioners. Also the location, standing about the Precinct and having encounters with individuals."
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