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	Bishop of Clogher Failure to Report Abuse Allegations Irish Times March 22, 2010 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0322/1224266809458.html IRELAND -- THE BISHOP of Clogher, Joseph Duffy, failed to report allegations of clerical child sex abuse against a priest to the civil authorities. He was also party to at least one civil settlement involving a claim made against the diocese, in which a non-disclosure agreement was signed between the diocese and the claimant of sexual abuse. Dr Duffy was told in 1989 that Fr John McCabe, who was a teacher at St Michael's College, Enniskillen, had abused a boy in his care. He did not report the allegations to the police, according to a Sunday newspaper. Attempts to contact Dr Duffy yesterday were unsuccessful. The Catholic Communications Office said queries should be directed to the bishop. In a statement Dr Duffy said it was to his "regret" he did not pass on the abuse claims to the police when he first became aware of the allegations in 1989. He also disclosed he was bound to secrecy by the victim's parents at the time of the offence, but that he would "not now be restricted by such a condition". He said all known records were now shared with the civil authorities. In 1996 McCabe was convicted in the North of abusing a boy between 1979 and 1985. He was defrocked. Dr Duffy offered his resignation in 2009 on his 75th birthday.
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