Bishop Murray Rejects Claims, by Mike Dwane, Limerick Leader, July 25, 2009

Bishop Murray Rejects Claims

By Mike Dwane
Limerick Leader
July 25, 2009

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Bishop-Murray-rejects-claims.5488530.jp

A SPOKESMAN for Bishop Donal Murray has rejected claims the Diocese of Limerick shares child protection committees with the Diocese of Cloyne, where a judicial inquiry is investigating clerical sexual abuse.

Documentary maker and author Mary Raftery has called for a commission to also investigate priests in the Limerick diocese, saying this week: "I would suggest there are serious problems in Limerick that should be examined by a commission of inquiry because we became aware of some difficulties in Limerick through Cloyne and some of the shared committees they had."

Bishop Donal Murray

But diocesan secretary Fr Paul Finnerty maintained that there "is no shared child protection committee between the Diocese of Limerick and the Diocese of Cloyne".

The diocese has in place a training committee for people working with children, a case management committee that works with Bishop Murray on complaints or allegations and an advisory committee that also works with the bishop.

Fr Finnerty said if Ms Raftery had specific information on child abuse she could contact the Gardai, the HSE or the diocese itself, and in that order.

Bishop Murray is one of up to 20 senior Church figures whose handling of abuse complaints in the Archdiocese of Dublin is examined in a report submitted to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern this week.