Priest bites off ear in unholy punch-up

 

Sunday 11 November 2012 13:26 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Entering the priesthood is supposed to be for those can spread peace, but two retired Catholic priests showed their war-like side lives on in an explosive fight over a parking space that ended with one biting off the other's ear, the Australia News Network reports.

Father Thomas Henry Bryne, 80, was charged with grievous bodily harm over the incident involving his neighbour, 81-year-old Father Thomas Joseph Cameron Smith.

After the fight ended, Byrne told Smith to pick something off the ground - only when Smith got home did he realise he was holding his own torn off ear, which he then rushed to hospital to have reattached.

Appearing in court, both showed signs of the dust-up, as Bryne was sporting a black eye.

Both men are put up by the Catholic church in a Dianella complex, which houses three retired Catholic priests.

Neighbourly relations are unlikely to be resumed, after a judge charged Bryne with grievous bodily harm and imposed tough bail restrictions, preventing him from going within 30 feet of Father Smith.

A neighbor in their complex was mystified: "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."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in