Popular Catholic Priest Suspended over Child Inquiry

The Irish Mirror
November 4, 2013

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/fr-owen-collins-suspended-over-2674049


A popular Catholic parish priest has been suspended pending a probe into complaints levelled against him.

Shocked parishioners received the new yesterday morning that Fr Owen Collins has temporarily stepped down voluntarily following an accusation.

Church-goers across Kilmore Diocese were dealt the hammer blow through a statement from Bishop Leo O’Reilly which was read out at all masses in the parish of Drumgoon in Cootehill, Co Cavan.

He said: “I deeply regret to inform you that I have received a complaint against your parish priest.

“He has, in accordance with child safeguarding procedures, voluntarily agreed to take administrative leave whilst an investigation takes place concerning the complaint.

“It is important to stress that the priest enjoys the right to the presumption of innocence whilst these matters are being investigated.

“From experience, I am aware that investigations of this nature can take a considerable time to complete.

“Pending the outcome of the investigation, therefore, I have appointed Fr Paul Casey as acting parish priest of this parish.

“We ask for God’s help and blessings for all concerned at this difficult time. Thank you for your attention and your prayers.”

Residents, some visibly upset, gathered outside churches across the parish in disbelief at the shock development.

One Cootehill parent, who asked not to be named, said: “This came as a bolt from the blue.

“We’ve never heard anything derogatory about our parish priest in all his time here and we just can’t believe this investigation is now happening”.

And as the news sank in, an official statement from Bishop O’Reilly appeared on the diocese website. It said: “The policy of the diocese of Kilmore is that in all matters relating to child safeguarding, the safety and welfare of children is an overriding concern.

“It is in that context I deeply regret to say I have received a complaint against a priest of the diocese in pastoral ministry which raises concerns in relation to child

safeguarding matters.”

The bishop stressed Fr Collins has not been found guilty of anything. He added: “The complaint relates to events alleged to have happened a considerable time ago.

“I want to assure everybody again, as I have done before, the Diocese of Kilmore is fully committed to safeguarding children.

“I invite anybody in the diocese who may have concerns in this regard to bring them to the attention of the child safeguarding designated person of the diocese or to Garda and the Health Service Executive.