October 25, 2005

Legal concerns as Ferns sex abuse report to be published

IRELAND
Irish Times

The Cabinet is to discuss the Ferns inquiry report this morning amid legal concerns over how it might be published. Liam Reid and Patsy McGarry report

The Tánaiste confirmed the report would go to Cabinet this morning and said she expected it to be published this afternoon.

"The Attorney General has cleared it now for Cabinet consideration . . . I think it would be important to publish it as quickly as possible. It will be published in full."

It is believed Attorney General Rory Brady remained anxious last night that the Government not leave itself open to legal action from any other jurisdictions.

Minister of State with responsibility for children Brian Lenihan is to brief the Cabinet on the report and the concerns of Mr Brady.

The report will detail the handling by Church and State authorities of allegations from more than 100 complainants against between 25 and 27 priests of Ferns diocese dating back to the mid-1960s.

Posted by kshaw at October 25, 2005 08:20 AM