Priest caught taking part in a Zoom call while driving to a funeral

A priest illegally used his phone at the wheel to make a Zoom call to a council meeting – while driving to officiate a funeral.

Father Malcolm Lane, 69, was seen on camera sat behind the wheel while trying to speak in the meeting where he is a Conservative councillor.

The Tory member of Monmouthshire County Council spoke to introduce himself on the video link – when the chairman suddenly clocked he was in a car driving.

Labour councillor Armand Watts asked him: ‘Malcolm, I’ve just got an observation here, are you driving?’

Cllr Lane, who also served as a magistrate for 27 years, was seen in his dog collar on the video link at the wheel of his car.

And Father Lane replied: ‘Yeah, I’m driving. I’m actually off to conduct a funeral but I’m listening intently.’

The priest faced an unholy row if he was caught using his phone at the wheel.

Anyone caught using a handheld phone while driving, can be fined up to £200 and receive six penalty points on your licence.

Cllr Watts, who was sat in the council chamber in Usk, Monmouthshire, responded with ‘Hmm, wait a minute, one second” – before then advising him to pull over.

‘Malcolm, my advice to you because I’m not sure where you are, obviously you’ve got important business this morning, would be to possibly pull over if you can,’ he said.

‘Just turn your camera off maybe.’

Father Lane, veteran Conservative councillor for Mardy ward, replied: ‘Yeah I will’.

Other councillors on the call seemed to be shocked by the priest’s actions on the livestream.

Monmouth Labour member Steven Garratt, who covers Overmonnow ward, was seen shaking his head and giving a thumbs-down gesture.

A spokesperson for the council said like many others, Monmouthshire County Council holds its meetings online and in person.

It said: ‘This allows councillors to attend all meetings remotely for a variety of reasons.’

Father Lane, who was due to discuss dental services at the meeting, did not respond for a comment.

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