Concerns Raised about Two Priests in Their Previous Ministries

By Caroline Crawford
Irish Independent
September 6, 2012

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/concerns-raised-about-two-priests-in-their-previous-ministries-3221651.html

CONCERNS about two priests who abused children in the Clonfert diocese had been raised in their previous ministries.

The two men, who had both come to the diocese from religious orders, then went on to abuse children after their transfer to the Clonfert diocese.

However, information highlighting concerns about the two men was not passed on to their new bishop.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of the report into the Clonfert Diocese, Bishop John Kirby said he believed the men may have abused even more children while in the diocese. However, no further allegations ever came to light.

"It's my view based on presumption, rather than anything else," he said yesterday.

The bishop has since made attempts to reach out to other victims, but not all have welcomed this, according to the report.

Dr Kirby yesterday apologised for his role in moving the two men to new parishes after allegations of sexual abuse against children were made against them.

He said there were no guidelines in place when he moved the two priests in the 1990s after they had abused children in the area. He described his decision as "a grave mistake" and one he profoundly regrets.

The bishop admitted that there was no further monitoring of the priests after they were moved, but stressed that both were removed from ministry.

While he did alert the Western Health Board to the allegations of sexual abuse, he failed to inform gardai until several years later.

The allegation against priest 'A' was reported to the Western Health Board by Dr Kirby three days after he became aware of it in 1990.

The 1993 allegation against priest 'B' was not reported at the time. However, in 1995, Dr Kirby reported the second allegation against priest 'B' and, at this stage, revealed to gardai the earlier allegation.

In both cases, Bishop Kirby referred the priests for therapy.

Later, gardai began their own probe into priest 'A' and he was successfully prosecuted and imprisoned. He was then laicised at his own request.

After his release from prison, he was put under supervision.

No criminal or civil proceedings were ever initiated against priest 'B' as neither victim wished to make a statement to gardai. He then moved out of the State and has since died.