THE incoming parish priest for St Mary’s Church in Duntocher has been defended by past parishioners and the archdiocese.

Father Joseph Mills, having turned 75, will be retiring the archdiocese announced last week and Father Paul Milarvie, until now parish priest of St Flannan’s in Kirkintilloch and Saint John of the Cross, Twechar, will move to St Mary’s.

Fr Milarvie was involved in a 2010 drink-related incident involving another man and was disciplined by the church, but has served “without blemish” since then, said the archdiocese.

A national newspaper at the weekend cited an anonymous St Mary’s parishoner objecting to Fr Milarvie being moved there.

Fr Mills did not reply to enquiries from the Post.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Glasgow said: “Fr Milarvie was involved in an isolated drink-related incident some years ago which was well documented at the time. He was subject to a Church disciplinary process with which he complied fully.

“He has served without blemish since that time and is loved by his present parishioners at St Flannan’s who have been fully supportive of him and are sorry to lose him. The Archbishop has full confidence in Fr Milarvie and believes he will make a fine parish priest for St Mary’s.”

Dozens of Fr Milarvie’s current parishioners in Kirkintilloch were vocal in their praise and defence of him on social media this week. They said if anyone in Duntocher didn’t want him, they would gladly keep him. Angela Sim wrote: “Lovely person and brilliant priest who couldn’t have done more for our family. Any parish will be lucky to have him.”

And Johanne McDowall said: “He is a great asset to any parish – we are very upset at losing this incredible man. I have been to Rome with him and I’ve never met someone so clever as Fr Milarvie. At mass yesterday we were all in tears as he said his goodbyes. St Mary’s don’t know what an asset they are getting to their parish.”