March 04, 2005

Ferns report still awaited

IRELAND
One in Four

Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent - Irish Times

The Ferns inquiry, which is investigating how allegations of clerical child sex abuse were handled in the mainly Co Wexford diocese, is not now expected to submit its report to the Department of Health before the end of March.

The inquiry, which held its first hearing in September 2003, is dealing with three outstanding matters and is awaiting responses from third parties.

Following the resignation of Dr Brendan Comiskey as bishop of Ferns, George Bermingham SC was asked in 2002 by the then minister for health, Micheál Martin, to investigate which would be the best form of inquiry to look at how allegations of clerical abuse were dealt with in Ferns.

Posted by kshaw at March 4, 2005 08:58 AM