A priest has begun locking the doors of his church while saying mass after complaints to Gardai that people had been attending his liturgies.

The parish priest of St. Brigid’s church in Kilrush, Wexford, Father Joe Power, said that he has been holding online Mass, but doors had remained open during Mass for a small number of people to attend should they so wish to.

During the week, less than five people might attend Mass, while ten to 15 people might attend on a Sunday, he said.

However, he had a call from gardaí after a complaint was made that the church was allowing big crowds in to attend Mass, something which he said was completely false.

“From the word go, I was told that we could leave the church doors open for private prayer and participation and that’s what I’ve done, I’ve adhered to the law completely. It seems to me that there was a crank out there or maybe cranks, but they maintain that there were huge crowds coming to Mass in Kilrush and that is totally and completely false and untrue.

“Last weekend, as a result, I had to keep the doors of the church closed during Mass, and it was one of those situations that was forced upon us rather than being right”.