IRELAND
Irish Independent
AN INQUIRY into sex abuse by at least 60 Catholic clerics in the Dublin diocese is expected to follow hard on the heels of the report on abuse in the diocese of Ferns, due out today. The fresh investigation into abuse in the Dublin diocese will mean that the Catholic Church will have to face the fall-out from clerical sex scandals for several years to come.
The terms of reference of the Dublin inquiry will be presented to the Cabinet by Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, "within the next couple of weeks", a spokesman said last night.
ALLEGATIONS
It will investigate allegations against at least 60 clerics going back four decades, including the high profile cases of Fr Ivan Payne, Fr Tony Walsh, and Ms Marie Collins who was abused by Fr Paul McGennis.
A separate Garda investigation into the Dublin diocese has already been taking place since October 2002, and is described as "on-going". A Garda spokesman said "a small number of inquiries have still to be carried out".
A file is then likely to be sent to the DPP, although the Garda investigation could be absorbed by the overall State inquiry.
The Dublin inquiry will question such high-profile witnesses as Cardinal Desmond Connell who retired as Archbishop of Dublin last year.