Abuse Continued for Years Due to Protection of Priests

By Carl O'Brien
Irish Times
November 27, 2009

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1127/1224259546651.html

[This feature includes:
• Church 'Routinely Covered Up' Child Sexual Abuse for 30 Years, by Carl O'Brien and Patsy McGarry, Irish Times (11/27/09)
• Vatican and Nuncio Ignored Letters on Abuse, by Patsy McGarry and Paddy Agnew, Irish Times (11/27/09)
• Murphy Report: Background and Composition, by Patsy McGarry and Carol Coulter, Irish Times (11/27/09)
• 30 Years of Church and State Cover-Up of Child Sex Abuse, by Paul Cullen, Irish Times (11/27/09)
• Cult of Loyal Obedience at Heart of Lies and Cover-Up, by Patsy McGarry, Irish Times (11/27/09)
• Garda Connivance in Stifling Abuse Inquiries Deplored, by Carol Coulter, Irish Times (11/27/09)
• Abuse Continued for Years Due to Protection of Priests, by Carl O'Brien, Irish Times (11/27/09)
• Bishops Lied and Covered Up, by Mary Raftery, Irish Times (11/27/09)]

Cases of serious clerical sexual abuse were detailed in the report

Fr X*

The priest, whose name was deleted from the report at its final editing stage, served in the Pro-Cathedral during the 1970s.

The first formal complaint against him came from a former altar boy. In more recent years, two men have come forward and complained of being sexually assaulted – in one instance to the extent of buggery – by him in the presbytery and altar boys' changing rooms.

The commission says the case "encapsulates everything that was wrong with the archdiocese's handling" of abuse cases. It says Archbishop Dermot Ryan protected the priest to an extraordinary degree and the welfare of children did not appear to play any part in his decisions.

The commission is also highly critical of Garda "connivance" in stifling one complaint and failing to investigate another. It says it would not have been aware of the Garda activity were it not for information in church files.

Fr Edmondus*

He committed a number of sexual assaults on young patients while chaplain to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children between the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also assaulted a nine-year-old child while based in Wicklow.

One of the victims, Marie Collins, told the commission: "He abused his power and used my respect for his religious position to abuse and degrade me, a child – not just a child but a sick child."

The commission says the case was badly handled by Archbishop McQuaid and says his explanation that the priest's actions arose from "wonderment" about female anatomy was risible. It says the apparent cancellation by the archbishop of pursuing the priest through canon law was a "disaster" and established a lasting pattern of not holding abusers accountable.

Fr James McNamee

He became notorious for abuse allegations at his home-built swimming pool in Crumlin. It was alleged that a select group of boys were encouraged to swim and exercise in the nude.

At least 21 people have made complaints of sexual abuse against Fr McNamee, mostly between 1960 and 1979.

Following an investigation in 1978 by the then parish priest of Sandymount, it was noted that "a possibly explosive situation exists". Yet, the priest was allowed to remain in his job until May 1979 and was appointed chaplain in Co Wicklow for "health reasons". The commission said the case was yet another example of how church authorities were more concerned with avoiding scandal that any concern for the abused.

Fr Ivan Payne

A convicted serial child sex abuser, the commission is aware of a total of 31 people who have made abuse allegations against him. Half allege they were abused during his time as chaplain in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children.

He has been convicted of indecent assault in respect of 10 victims and has served a prison sentence. One of his victims, Andrew Madden, became the first person to speak out publicly about the abuse he endured in 1994.

The commission says the initial complaint against him was handled very badly and, as a result, many other children were abused or potentially exposed to abuse. Archbishop Ryan and Bishop Mahony were particularly culpable. When Archbishop Connell first became aware of the problem, he did not inform himself properly and took a "very hands-off approach to the case".

Fr Patrick Maguire

He admitted at one point that about 100 victims might emerge when his name became known.

The commission says complaints about him were handled very badly by his order, the Missionary Society of St Columban. Over the course of two decades the order did "absolutely nothing" to prevent his access to children. In fact, he was assigned to promote the order around Ireland, giving him access to every Catholic school – and virtually every child – in the country.

Fr William Carney

One of the most serious sexual abusers, there is evidence he acted in concert with other convicted clerical sex abusers, Fr Francis McCarthy and Fr Patrick McGuire, during the 1970s and 1980s. The commission is aware of allegations of abuse in respect of 32 individuals, although there is evidence he abused many more.

He had access to numerous children in residential care and swimming classes. At one point, he inquired into the possibility of fostering children.

The first of many complaints were made by altar boys in 1983 whom he took swimming. The commission says the mishandling of these complaints by the archdiocese was "nothing short of catastrophic" and displayed no concern for child welfare.

Fr Ioannes*

The commission is aware of three complaints of child sexual abuse and one of physical abuse against him between the 1960s and 1980s. He had admitted to sexually abusing three others, but it is likely there are more victims. This year he pleaded guilty to a number of charges.

The handling of an initial complaint by the archdiocese was "quite simply disastrous and typical of its time". Nothing was done, even though the priest admitted his guilt. He was free to commit further offences, which he did. In addition, Garda handling of a complaint in 1995 was most unsatisfactory. The prosecution of it was "haphazard and desultory".

Fr Thomas Naughton

More than 20 named people have made complaints against Fr Naughton to the commission. Most relate to his time in Valleymount and Donnycarney parishes during the 1980s.

Despite many complaints, the commission says the archdiocese did everything in its power to protect him, and ignored the victims, until the problem became so great it could not be hidden. As a result, he was left to continue to abuse for several years.

Fr Noel Reynolds

While parish priest in Glendalough in the 1990s, the parents of a child expressed concern to a neighbouring curate about his behaviour with young children. Among the concerns were that he was speaking to them in a sexual manner and encouraging them to swim naked in the river.

Numerous indications of serious abuse and admissions by Fr Reynolds that he had a sexual orientation towards children were ignored by the archdiocese. Despite this, he was relocated to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, where he had further access to young children. The commission says that if two women complainants did not complain to gardaí, the archdiocese would have been "quite happy to ignore the fact that any abuse took place".

Fr Laurentius*

Described as a "promiscuous man", he admits having had numerous sexual relationships with women. The commission, however, has complaints from two named underage girls who say they were sexually abused by him.

The commission says his religious order tried very hard to ensure he was not a risk to girls and women. He was sent for treatment to New Mexico and, later, to the Granada Institute.