By Charlie Taylor
Irish Times
March 16, 2010
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0316/breaking39.html
IRELAND -- The Catholic Communications Office today said the former bishop of Kilmore, Dr Francis McKiernan had advised the Norbertine order should have paedophile priest Brendan Smyth treated by a psychiatrist following an inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse.
It issued a statement this morning clarifying the role the Catholic primate Séan Brady played in a 1975 canonical inquiry into allegations of child abuse against Smyth. The statement said the cardinal, who at the time was a teacher at St Patrick's College, had been asked to conduct the investigation because he held a doctorate in Canon Law.
 |
| Paedophile priest Brendan Smyth leaving Limavady Courthouse, Co Derry, after extradition proceedings to the Republic in 1997. |
Previously, Cardinal Brady has said his role was merely to take notes at two meetings held with two abuse victims.
The office stressed today Dr Brady had no decision-making powers regarding the outcome of the inquiry and that it was Dr McKiernan who had ultimate responsibility for the enquiry.
According to the statement, the boys who were questioned by the cardinal during the investigation about the abuse they had experienced "were asked to confirm by oath the truthfulness of their statements and that they would preserve the confidentiality of the interview process."
"The intention of this oath was to avoid potential collusion in the gathering of the inquiry's evidence and to ensure that the process was robust enough to withstand challenge by the perpetrator, Fr Brendan Smyth," the statement said.
The statement added that eight days after the cardinal passed his findings on to his then bishop, Dr McKiernan reported the findings to Fr Smyth's religious superior, the Abbot of Kilnacrott, withdrew Smyth's priestly faculties and advised psychiatric intervention.
The cardinal has said he does not intend to resign following the weekend revelations about his involvement in the inquiry.
Dr Brady yesterday denied he had helped to cover up cases of alleged sex abuse of children in the diocese of Kilmore 35 years ago and insisted he would not step down.
The cardinal said he did all that was asked of him by Dr McKiernan in relation to Smyth and denied that the oath of secrecy, which was agreed to by the two young people he interviewed, was for the protection of the church.
Abuse victims and groups supporting those affected by clerical sex abuse have all called on the cardinal to resign.
Elsewhere, the Labour Party has called on gardaí to initiate a criminal investigation into the role played by Dr Brady in the canonical inquiry.
Support organisations said today they have seen a marked increase in calls from members of the public following the revelations regarding the cardinal's role in the 1975 investigation.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.