Cavan Priest Suspended over Sex Allegations

The Northern Sound
October 13, 2013

http://www.northernsound.ie/news/cavan-priest-suspended-over-sex-allegations/


A priest in Mountnugent, Co Cavan has been suspended from pastoral duties over allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour – according to reports in today’s Irish Mail on Sunday newspaper.

It’s understood that complaints were made about Fr Kevin Smith in September by a woman in her 30s to his superior Fr William Fitzgerald who immediately passed on the information to the Gardaí.

Fr Smith was previously forced to resign in 1994 as Norbertine Abbot of the Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott, Co Cavan over his handling of the Brendan Smyth child abuse scandal. However, he has continued to say mass up until last week when local parishioners were advised by Fr Fitzgerald that he would not be saying mass for the moment. It’s understood it is now up to the woman to decide if she would like to make a formal complaint to Gardaí in which case, a full investigation will be launched.