Irish Priest Probed in Chile over Child Sex Abuse

The Star
July 26, 2012

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/26/reutersworld/20120726064946&sec=reutersworld

SANTIAGO: An Irish Catholic priest working as a school chaplain in Chile is being investigated for alleged sexual abuse of a minor, authorities said Wednesday.

John O'Reilly, a member of the Legionnaires of Christ who works as a chaplain at the Colegio Cumbres school in the posh Las Condes district of Santiago, was suspended after a student's family reported abuse.

Investigating prosecutor Ignacio Pinto is leading the investigation, a prosecutor's office source said.

O'Reilly insisted in a statement that it was all a "regrettable mistake," arguing that his behavior was above board.

Chilean prosecutors are investigating reports of abuse in at least 60 schools, officials said.

Ireland, a predominantly Roman Catholic country, has been rocked in recent years by the findings of a series of unprecedented state inquiries into child abuse by pedophile priests and attempts by Church leaders to cover them up. - AFP