IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph
By Alf McCreary
01 November 2005
The Irish Catholic Bishops have apologised to the victims and families of clerical abuse, following widespread recent findings on the number of priests facing charges and imprisonment.
The bishops held a special meeting at Maynooth yesterday to consider the implication of the recent Ferns Inquiry following its damning report of clerical child abuse in the diocese in the Republic.
Allegations have also been made against more than 50 priests in the Armagh, Dromore, Down and Connor and Derry dioceses.
The bishops yesterday expressed their "deep sadness" at the findings of the Ferns Inquiry.
Arising from the report, the Republic's Minister for Children Brian Lenihan wrote to Archbishop Sean Brady, the Catholic Primate, and the bishops yesterday discussed the issues raised in his letter.