Breaking News
March 22, 2010
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/bishop-walsh-admits-involvement-in-carney-case-451003.html
 |
The Bishop of Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh has today admitted he was one of the three judges involved in the case of paedophile priest William Carney.
The case is regarded as one of the worst mentioned in the Murphy report into clerical abuse.
In a statement, Walsh also says he was also involved in a second case which was examined by the commission, but not published yet due to legal reasons.
The Murphy Report found the Church's handling of Carney's case was "nothing short of catastrophic", inept and self-serving.
Walsh said that he has taken the step in response to the Pope's pastoral letter which asked to establish the truth of what has happened in the past.
Before Walsh was appointed to his current position, he was asked by the Archbishop of Dublin to act as one of three judges in a canonical process involving allegations of sexual abuse against two priests in Dublin.
In the first case, that of Carney, they decided to expel him from the priesthood and made no request for an oath of secrecy from the victims.
Walsh says he did not contact gardai because he thought the diocese was already in touch with them - but he says he would do so if handling the case now.
For legal reasons, the details of the second case cannot be made public - but Walsh says when they are, he will be held accountable.
He says as a younger priest he was part of that "oppresive culture of secrecy and undue deference to ecclesiastical authorities".
He went on to say he will always carry a sense of sadness for the disasterously inadequate response of the Church to child abuse.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.