Reports Reveal New Details of Sex Abuse by Catholic Church
The Newstalk
CLONFERT The Bishop of Clonfert in Galway has apologised for moving two priests who sexually abused children to different diocese. John Kirby says while he did notify civil authorities at the time he profoundly regrets moving the priests concerned to different parishes thereby placing others at serious risk. Both of the changes took place in the early to mid-1990s. He says he 'utterly condemns' the actions of the priests concerned. The Bishop says this was "a grave mistake" on his part and that he would operate very differently now and will continue to do so in future. He adds that all the priests of the diocese have completed basic training in relation to child safeguarding and that they are committed to continuous updating of training and to reviews of all published material at least once every 3 years. His statement comes amid the publication of 7 reports into child safe-guarding practices in the Catholic Church. It is the second tranche of reviews by the child protection watchdog of the Church - the National Board for Safeguarding Children. 4 dioceses will publish reports today. They are Clonfert in Galway, Cork and Ross, Kildare and Leighlin and Limerick. Whilst 3 religious congregations will also publish reviews – the Dominicans, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the Spiritans. KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN An audit of child safeguarding practices in the parish of Kildare and Leighlin has found that 18 allegations of sexual abuse were made against 10 priests from the diocese since 1975. 8 of those priests are deceased while the remaining 2 are out of ministry. Only 1 of the 10 priests was convicted. The audit was carried out by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church. DIOCESE OF CORK AND ROSS An audit of child safeguarding practices at the Diocese of Cork and Ross found that 26 priests had allegations of abuse made against them between 1975 and 2011. In addition 50 allegations were reported to gardai and 51 were reported to the Health Service Executive (HSE). Three priests against whom allegations were made remain in ministry while 7 have retired. 4 priests in the Diocese have been convicted of having committed an offence or offences against a child or young person since January 1st 1975. And 3 priests who are not originally from the diocese but who live there are known to be the subject of an allegation arising from their past ministry. DIOCESE OF LIMERICK Allegations of abuse were made against 18 priests of the Diocese of Limerick between 1975 and March of this year. 34 claims were reported to Gardaí while 41 were brought to the attention of Health Boards. None of the priests in the Diocese have been convicted of having committed an offence against a child since 1975. Allegations relating to a past ministry have been made against 1 priest who does not serve in the diocese of Limerick but who lives there. The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland has made 12 recommendations in realtion to the diocese.
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