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	Bernard's Bravery Discussed in Dail By John Manning Fingal Independent December 8, 2009 http://www.fingal-independent.ie/news/bernards-bravery-discussed-in-dx00e1il-1967543.html THE story of a Swords man who was abused between the ages of six and 10 by Fr James McNamee has been brought to the attention of the Dail in a debate on the Murphy Report into clerical child abuse in Dublin. Bernard from Swords told the story of his abuses at the hands of Fr McNamee in the 1970s to the Fingal Independent last week. Quoting from that interview, Dr James Reilly TD told his Dail colleagues that Bernard had demonstrated more compassion for his abuser than the Church had demonstrated over decades of abuses. Deputy Reilly said: 'I wish to read into the record part of an article in the Fingal Independent about the victim of a priest in my constituency. 'Bernard told the Fingal Independent that it was important for the country's children, that something like this never happens again.' He quoted Bernard saying: 'Going forward, all institutions dealing with children have to know that if they are aware of a scandal they can't do nothing about it.' Dr Reilly told the Dail: 'He (Bernard) said he bore no grudges against Fr McNamee's family and he was still struggling to understand why the priest did what he did.' He quoted Bernard talking about his abuser and saying: 'He had his own demons that he wasn't able to deal with in the institution he was in. I don't in any way condone what he did but I recognise there was no support for him either.' Dr Reilly said: ' That man showed more compassion in those few words than the Church has shown in all its volumes of rhetoric. 'If the Church is to survive here, and retain and regain respect it needs to act in a manner that is respectful of both law and morality. I regret that the very slow reaction of many of these men - for they are all men - does the Church no good whatsoever.' For Bernard and all the victims of clerical child abuse in the diocese, Deputy Reilly said justice had to be done. He said: 'Every perpetrator needs to be brought to justice. All those who were abused need to be afforded the opportunity to confront their abusers if they are still alive. 'They certainly should have the opportunity to confront those who protected those priests and moved them around so that they could continue their evil ways. That is the very least we can expect.'
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