IRELAND
Irish Independent
Eugene Hogan, Brian McDonald and Bernard Purcell
GARDAI will travel to the UK within weeks to interview former Bishop of Galway Eamonn Casey about an alleged sexual assault against a young girl over 20 years ago, the Irish Independent has learned.
But the investigation could take several months to complete.
And that could delay the 78-year old prelate's much-publicised return to this country.
It had been expected he would retire to a rural Co Galway parish in the near future.
Confirmation that the Garda investigation was still continuing came after a weekend of confusion. It started with the Bishop of Galway Dr Martin Drennan welcoming his predecessor's move home.
He then called on him to issue a public apology over the Annie Murphy affair.
But Dr Casey insisted last night that he had made a full, humble and contrite apology after it emerged 14 years ago he had fathered a son with Ms Murphy.
Last night he said he had made it clear "more than once" that he was sorry for the hurt caused to parishioners.