Breaking News
July 13, 2011
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/report-reveals-bishop-was-referred-to-specialist-on-boundaries-512649.html
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The long-awaited report into clerical child sex abuse in the Catholic diocese of Cloyne has found the handling of allegations and complaints was "inadequate and inappropriate".
The report, which runs to over 400 pages, has made a damning assessment of Bishop John Magee, for failing to prevent or pursue allegations of clerical child sex abuse in the Diocese.
It has also singled out Monsignor Denis O’Callaghan, who assisted Bishop Magee in the running of the diocese.
The Commission of Investigation, led by Judge Yvonne Murphy, focused on complaints made against 19 priests who were working in Cloyne, between 1996 and 2009.
After significant delays due to legal issues, the Cloyne report has finally been published and provides yet another insight into the Church's mishandling and attempted cover-up of clerical child sex abuse.
The report is highly critical of Bishop John Magee and Monsignor Denis O’Callaghan, the two men with chief responsibility for dealing with abuse allegations in the diocese between 1996 and 2009.
It finds that Bishop Magee took little or no active interest in the management of child abuse cases and allowed free reign to the monsignor.
Bishop Magee's own behaviour is questioned in the report, allegations of inappropriate embraces and kissing of a young man were explained as Italian gestures picked up in the Vatican, and he was referred to a specialist on "boundaries".
Monsignor O'Callaghan has also been heavily criticised by the report which said he displayed "some inexplicable failures to recognise child sexual abuse" and did not believe in the requirement of reporting cases to other civil authorities.
The report has found the response to allegations by other state authorities including the Gardai and the HSE were adequate and appropriate.
It also highlights the need for the law to be clarified in order to ensure that maximum possible protection for children in Ireland.
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