IRELAND
Eircom
From:The Irish Independent
Friday, 10th December, 2004
PRIESTS in the Ferns diocese have dipped into their own pockets to the tune of more than €75,000 to set up a new trust fund aimed at helping out victims of clerical sex abuse.
Serving and retired priests are contributing to the fund, which is one of a number of ways in which the diocese, one of the worst hit by scandals in the country, is responding to victims of abuse.
The fund, called the St Ibar's Trust, was set up during the summer. It came into being following talks between priests and diocesan officials about what clerics could do to help out clerical sex abuse victims.
The fund, which is governed by a deed of trust, helps the diocese to meet the cost of giving pastoral support and assistance to those who suffered abuse from priests of the diocese. A condition of the trust is that no monies from the fund can be used to help the diocese in meeting its legal fees arising from abuse claims.
Diocesan spokesman, Fr John Carroll said the fund consists purely of contributions from some of the diocese's 108 serving and retired priests.