Sacked West Bromwich vicar Rev Patrick Okechi sues Bishop of Lichfield

Nov 28 2009 by Jane Tyler, Birmingham Mail

A MIDLANDS vicar who was sacked by the Church of England for having an affair with a parishioner has told a tribunal he is now homeless and practically living on the streets.

The Rev Patrick Okechi lost his job at the Good Shepherd with St John in West Bromwich three years ago when his fling with the woman was revealed.

Last December he was banned from working as a vicar for ten years at a Church of England disciplinary hearing.

He is now trying to sue the Bishop of Lichfield for unfair dismissal and has taken his case to an employment tribunal.

At a pre-hearing review in Birmingham yesterday Dr Okechi was told he might not be able to proceed with his claim because he was too late in lodging his application.

But Dr Okechi told the tribunal that was not his fault and was all due to a ‘conspiracy’ between his solicitors and the Diocese of Lichfield.

He said: “The Church of England insisted on me having their own solicitors who I felt misled me.”

He claimed the lawyer assigned to him was not an expert in employment law but specialised in family and divorce cases.

He said last December he had asked her to start tribunal proceedings and lodge an appeal against his ban.

“She told me there would be plenty of time to do this and that she would let me know when was the best time,” he said.

“Then I received notification from the Church that my name would be included on the ‘bad priest’ register.

“I spoke to my solicitor and asked about my rights and if I should appeal or go to a tribunal.