IRELAND
West Meath Examiner
Deputy Editor Eilis Ryan reports
Bishop Michael Smith has admitted to the Westmeath Examiner this week that he was “shocked” by the Ferns Report.
But while there have been allegations against three Meath diocesan priests, compensation has never been paid out to anyone from the diocese in relation to claims of child sexual abuse.
However, he said, the diocese had made a contribution to another diocese in respect of a claim made there against a priest - no longer in ministry - who was on loan from the Meath diocese.
Regarding the three complaints that have been lodged since he became Bishop in 1984, Bishop Smith explained that the most recent incident was “a possible allegation”.