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	Row Brews As Church Stalls on Abuse Files By Ed Carty Belfast Telegraph February 2, 2008 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3395647.ece The Catholic Church is preparing for a potentially bitter courtroom row involving two of its most senior clerics. In a remarkable twist to a long-running state inquiry into clerical child sex abuse, Cardinal Desmond Connell has asked the court to block the release of secret Church files. More than 60,000 documents have already been handed over by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin but the Cardinal maintains he never agreed to it. The unprecedented public row will play out in Dublin's High Court on Monday - sparking concerns of a massive rift in the upper levels of the Church. The documents relate to complaints against paedophile priests. In a bid to dampen suggestions of a rift in the highest ranks, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Dr Eamonn Walsh said it was a legal argument and not personal. But victims of clerical abuse were not as quick to dismiss it and warned that secrecy would raise suspicions of a cover-up. Support group One-in-Four branded the court action "cynical" and a "slap in the face" for those awaiting the truth about paedophile priests. The group's Deirdre Fitzpatrick said: "What is the Cardinal attempting to hide? "Again it creates suspicion and again it creates a belief that there is some kind of cover-up." The High Court in Dublin granted a temporary order blocking release of the files and will hold a full a judicial review on the discovery issue on Monday. It is understood the documents contain correspondence between the Cardinal and his solicitor when he was Archbishop of Dublin from 1988-2004. Some letters relate to legal advice after claims of child sexual abuse were made. Others include discussions on insurance. Allegations of sexual abuse have been made against more than 100 priests who served in the Archdiocese of Dublin. In response, the Irish Government set up the Commission of Investigation into Clerical Sexual Abuse in 2006 to examine the handling of allegations and Archbishop Martin agreed last year to hand over related documents. Some 66,583 files have been given and the inquiry is due to finish in September. Archbishop Martin has continually voiced his support for openness on clerical child sex abuse and the Cardinal called for the truth in order to bring justice to the sufferers.
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