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Timeline Ireland
How the Story of Abuse in Catholic Church Institutions Emerged
Irish Times
November 27, 2009
1987
Insurance taken out by dioceses around the country to cover them against
allegations of clerical child sex abuse.
The State publishes its first set of guidelines on child abuse.
1988
Desmond Connell appointed Archbishop of Dublin.
1990
Irish Catholic Church establishes internal committee (chaired by Bishop
of Ossory Laurence Forristal) to assess legal implications for Irish
priests of child abuse revelations in the future. No Irish case has
yet been made public.
1994
JUNE The scandal breaks. Fr Brendan Smyth (right) is sentenced to four
years in prison for abuse of children in Northern Ireland.
OCTOBER Irish Catholic Bishops Conference refuses to comment on reports
that two Kerry priests were removed from their duties on foot of allegations
of child sexual abuse.
NOVEMBER Government falls over divisions between coalition partners
Fianna Fáil and Labour over attorney general s handling of extradition
requests for Fr Brendan Smyth to Northern Ireland.
1995
APRIL Andrew Madden is the first victim of clerical child sex abuse
to go public. The Irish Press reports that he has received a compensation
payment in respect of his abuse as a child.
MAY Archbishop Desmond Connell announces that the archdiocese has never
paid compensation to any victim of clerical child abuse. He later explains
that the money used to compensate Andrew Madden was a loan from the
archdiocese to Ivan Payne.
JUNE A Dublin priest receives 12-month sentence for child sex abuse;
Belfast priest Daniel Curran sentenced to seven years for child sex
abuse. A number of other priests charged with abuse during following
months.
SEPTEMBER RTÉ Prime Timeprogramme names Ivan Payne as abuser
of Andrew Madden. Archbishop Connell threatens to sue over suggestions
that he facilitated the compensation payment to Andrew. No case is ever
taken.
OCTOBER The Irish Timesreports that another Dublin priest paid £50,000
compensation to a man he abused as a child.
NOVEMBER Bishops issue fullest apology to date. Wexford priest Fr Sean
Fortune charged with child sex abuse.
1996
JANUARY Bishops publish new guidelines on child sex abuse cases The
Framework Document, otherwise known as the green book.
1997
JUNE A Dublin priest received an 18-month jail sentence for sexually
abusing a young girl during the 1970s.
JULY Fr Brendan Smyth jailed in Dublin for 12 years for abusing children
south of the Border.
1998
FEBRUARY Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announces that mandatory reporting
of child sex abuse will be introduced within lifetime of current government.
(To date, this has still not happened.)
JUNE Irish priest Fr Patrick Maguire (Columban) jailed in London for
child abuse (18 months).
Fr Ivan Payne jailed for sexual abuse of eight young boys. His two-year
sentence is criticised for being too light.
JULY Fr Gus Griffin (Holy Ghost Fathers) sentenced to seven years for
abusing young boys.
Fr Thomas Naughton sentenced to three years for abusing four young
altar boys.
1999
MARCH Fr Sean Fortune commits suicide on the eve of his trial on multiple
charges of child abuse.
JUNE Pope John Paul II rejects any linkage between child sexual abuse
and priestly celibacy.
2001
SEPTEMBER Retired judge Gillian Hussey appointed by hierarchy to chair
Church s Child Protection Committee. Audit of all dioceses announced.
2002
MARCH BBC television broadcasts Suing the Pope on the abuse of boys
in the Ferns diocese by Fr Sean Fortune.
APRIL Bishop of Ferns Brendan Comiskey resigns in response to evidence
that he covered up child sex abuse in his diocese.
Government announces establishment of independent inquiry into child
abuse in the Ferns diocese.
JUNE Maynooth trustees announce inquiry into allegations of improper
behaviour by its former vice-president, Msgr Micheál Ledwith.
OCTOBER RTÉ s Prime Timebroadcasts Cardinal Secretson the handling
by a number of bishops of clerical child sex abuse allegations in the
archdiocese of Dublin.
NOVEMBER Government pledges to establish full independent judicial
inquiry into Dublin archdiocese s handling of abuse allegations.
DECEMBER Hierarchy disbands its own national audit committee.
2003
JANUARY Mervyn Rundle, abused by Fr Thomas Naughton, receives one of
largest settlements to date, reported to be more than EUR 300,000.
MAY Diarmuid Martin named as successor to Desmond Connell as Archbishop
of Dublin.
2004
APRIL Cardinal Desmond Connell steps down as Archbishop of Dublin.
2005
OCTOBER Ferns Report is published, detailing extensive child abuse
and cover-up.
NOVEMBER Judge Yvonne Murphy appointed to head up Commission of Investigation
into the Dublin archdiocese.
2008
JANUARY Cardinal Connell seeks to refuse access by the Commission of
Investigation to over 5,000 documents which he claims are confidential.
He eventually drops his challenge.
MARCH Bishop Magee of Cloyne steps aside from his duties after it is
revealed he did not follow proper child protection guidelines. Government
extends remit of Dublin Commission of Investigation to examine the diocese
of Cloyne.
2009
MAY Publication of Ryan report on widespread abuse of children in Ireland
s institution.
NOVEMBER Murphy report published
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