Brady 'did not offer to resign'

Belfast Telegraph
May 4, 2012

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/cardinal-in-abuse-probe-quit-row-16154278.html

Cardinal Sean Brady's spokesman denied claims that he had offered to resign

The Catholic Church has insisted Cardinal Sean Brady did not offer to resign when allegations of his role in a secret inquiry into a dangerous paedophile first broke two years ago.

While a string of government ministers and political leaders called on the Primate to consider his future over the Brendan Smyth affair, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was not his job to dictate who leads the church.

The beleaguered cardinal has vowed to carry on despite disclosures that in 1975 he was aware of at least five of Smyth's child victims, yet reports were not passed to police and parents not informed.

And Martin Long, head of the Catholic communications office in Ireland, rejected claims that the cardinal wanted to walk away in 2010. "No such offer of resignation was made," said the cardinal's spokesman.

Cardinal Brady - at the time a teaching priest at a boarding school, a part-time diocesan secretary and a canon lawyer - acted as notary in the 1975 interviews with two of Smyth's victims. He also swore them to secrecy but has insisted he should not quit as he was tasked with writing a report and his seniors were responsible for acting to stop Smyth.

The Taoiseach refused to go further than his previous calls for the cardinal to reflect on his position. "Clearly the controversy surrounding Cardinal Brady is about the acceptance of responsibility," he said.

In the 1975 internal inquiry Brendan Boland, then 14, told investigators that at least five children had been attacked by Smyth. The paedophile continued abusing for up to 20 more years. Helen McGonagle, a US lawyer abused by Smyth while he was a priest in east Greenwich, Rhode Island, in the Diocese of Providence, said the cardinal must resign and should be the subject of a criminal inquiry.

Police in Northern Ireland are reviewing the BBC documentary which uncovered the extent of Cardinal Brady's role in the Smyth inquiry, including a secret interview he conducted with a second victim to corroborate the original allegations. The Garda in Dublin have declined to comment on whether it is investigating the circumstances around the inquiry.

Martin McGuinness, who was among the politicians who called on the cardinal to consider his position, has now repeated his concerns.

The Stormont Deputy First Minister said: "I don't think he realised it the other day. But I think he should realise it now, that he has a big decision to make. I hope he makes the right decision and I hope it's a decision which is recognising the suffering of those young people who were raped and sexually abused by Fr Brendan Smyth."