Call for Swift Inquiry into Priest Abuse

By Ellen Coyne
The Times
March 14, 2018

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/call-for-swift-inquiry-into-priest-abuse-wc9qxtmvf

Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, has been urged to lose “no time” in initiating an investigation into the actions of Father Malachy Finnegan

Mary McAleese’s younger brother has called on the British government to hold a swift inquiry into a priest who abused him and others at a school.

Clem Leneghan has said that many people both at St Colman’s College in Newry, Co Down, and the diocese of Dromore knew about Father Malachy Finnegan’s actions and failed to act. In a statement yesterday, he called on all those who knew about the abuse to come forward to the PSNI.

Father Finnegan was never prosecuted for abuse despite his diocese being aware of 12 allegations against him starting from 1994. The diocese of Dromore has settled one claim of sexual abuse at the school. John McAreavey, the Bishop of Dromore, said the abuse was “abhorrent” and admitted he…