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Lockerbie priest who tirelessly helped bereaved families forced to retire or risk losing his voice

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The Catholic priest of Lockerbie who survived when 11 neighbours were killed in the Pan Am 103 atrocity has been ordered by doctors to step down from the pulpit – or permanently lose his voice due to a throat problem.

Canon Patrick Keegans, 70, was widely praised for the tireless help he gave bereaved families in the aftermath of the disaster but is sadly now having to retire on health grounds.

His vocal chords have become badly damaged and doctors say that he will lose the power of speech if he does not rest them with immediate effect.

In time, medics say his voice will recover sufficiently for him to hold a normal conversation, but not to engage in any public speaking.

Canon Keegans was at home with his mother when the wreckage of the bombed flight obliterated nearly every other property in the Sherwood Crescent area of Lockerbie in December 1988.

Eleven residents were killed along with the 243 passengers and 16 crew on the flight.

Father Patrick Keegans (left) and Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter in the Lockerbie terrorist attack
Canon Keegans (left) and Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter in the Lockerbie terrorist attack

As Lockerbie’s then newly-appointed parish priest, the young Canon Keegans had the grim task of helping police to identify the bodies of dead parishioners in the days after the disaster.

In an act of defiance, he soon moved back into his home in the street to show that the people of Lockerbie could cope with the effects of the tragedy.

Like many of the families of those on board the flight, he later opposed the conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi for carrying out the attack and believed him to be an innocent scapegoat.

Canon Keegans is still in regular touch with the families affected by the disaster.

He said: “Lockerbie has always been and will remain part of my life forever. I’m still involved with the families both here and in America.

“I was very keen to see justice done but I think the authorities were so desperate to convict Megrahi and were too quick to dismiss other avenues of investigation.

“I love Lockerbie but I couldn’t live there forever, the disaster would have controlled my life and I couldn’t allow it to do that.”

Canon Keegans at a Justice for Megrahi committee
Canon Keegans at a Justice for Megrahi committee

Canon Keegans, originally from Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, is now being forced to step down from the pulpit after working as a priest for the last 46 years.

After being ordained in 1970, he became a parish priest in Kilmarnock before going on to serve in a number of parishes in Ayrshire and the Borders.

He was placed in charge of St Margaret’s Catherdral in Ayr in 1997 and was made a Canon five years ago.

However, his damaged vocal cords have led doctors to advise him to retire or risk permanently losing his voice.

But while Canon Keegans is saddened to leave the job he loves, he will always be grateful for the life it has given him.

He said: “These last two decades in Ayr have been a wonderful blessing for me, both as the administrator of the cathedral and the chaplain at the local hospital.

“It has been a great privilege for me to meet and work with so many different people in the area during my career.

“I have known since I was a boy at primary school that I wanted to be a priest and I’m grateful to God for that.

“It has given me the most wonderful life full of amazing experiences, including the opportunity to live in Valladolid in Spain for six years while I did my training.

“I will cherish all the memories I have.”

Canon Keegans addresses the Scottish Parliament
Canon Keegans addresses the Scottish Parliament

Canon Keegans announced his retirement in the cathedral’s newsletter last week and has received letters of support from his parishioners.

He is unable to take mass but will continue in his administrative role until retiring on September 5th.

Canon Keegans added: “My parishioners have been excellent and have sent me lovely letters since announcing my retirement.

“I want to lie low for a short while to allow this decision to sink in though as it has come as a bit of a shock.

“I still hope to be around in the community. I will not be able to take as much involvement as I have in the past but I hope to do something for the people here.

“I am a local boy so I’d love to stick around.”

A statement on the Ayr cathedral website says: “The Canon’s vocal cords are damaged and he will lose his voice permanently if he does not follow the doctor’s advice.

“With rest his voice will heal, but it will not recover enough for him to engage in any public speaking. Canon Keegans, therefore, will be retiring from parish ministry.”