EXCLUSIVE: Cleric sniffs line of Class A drug while partying in church house

AN IRISH priest has been caught on camera snorting a line of cocaine at a party in his house on church grounds.

Father Stephen Crossan, 37, was seen sniffing a large line of the drug through a note while chatting to a pal in a room full of Nazi memorabilia.

He places a cigarette in an ashtray and seems to say “I shouldn’t” before snorting white powder off a plate in a video obtained by the Irish Sun on Sunday.

The respected Father’s drug use came at the end of a two-day bender that ended with him inviting friends back to his parish home.

Crossan has admitted taking drugs. He confessed: “It was just the one night and that was it. I do not have an issue with drugs.”

A source said revellers went back to Fr Crossan’s home at 11am for seven hours after they had been asked to leave another house party.

They were shocked to see Nazi memorabilia including flags, hats and a Maltese falcon on a plinth on his mantelpiece.

A source said: “Stephen said he was a social worker but told us the truth when we realised he lived on church grounds.

“He had been drinking beers and Jack Daniels as well as taking coke.

“The house was really lovely, with plush carpets and antique furniture everywhere.

“But we were pretty stunned to see all the Nazi stuff everywhere — badges, hats and flags. He showed me all these pins — there must have been about a hundred badges.

“It was all over the house, it reminded me of that Nazi room in Father Ted — I told him that and he laughed it off.

“At one point Stephen put on a cap and did the Nazi salute but he was just messing around.”

The source continued: “There was a big rail of all of his gowns — we tried some of them on and danced about.

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“I jokingly said we should taste the communion wine — but he didn’t take it out.

“We were in the kitchen most of the time, listening to chart music.

“It’s really shocking. He’s supposed to be an upstanding member of society. He shouldn’t be taking drugs.”

Fr Crossan lives on the grounds of St Patrick’s Church in Banbridge, Co Down.

The ex prison chaplain said of the memorabilia: “I know what they stand for, but I’m no Nazi. I collect historical stuff.

“There’s flags of every country up all over the place — Spanish stuff, Portuguese stuff, everything.

“There’s stuff there from every country, there’s hats there from every country.

“I’ve always collected stuff like that.”

Father Crossan trained as a teacher in London, worked for the Housing Executive and has been a chaplain in prisons and hospitals.

He said he was on sick leave with depression at the time of the clip.

He also revealed he had left the church indefinitely but was being backed by his parish.

A spokesman for his bishop said Fr Crossan will be supported through his issues.