IRELAND
National Catholic Reporter
Sarah MacDonald Catholic News Service | Oct. 30, 2013
DUBLIN A new review of the work of the Murphy Commission that investigated clerical sexual abuse in the archdiocese of Dublin charges that priests did not get even-handed treatment and that the process it followed was unfair.
Undertaken by the 1,000-member Association of Catholic Priests, the review also said the commission’s work exceeded its announced plans to investigate institutions rather than individuals.
The review poses a challenge to Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, who defended the commission’s findings in a statement Tuesday.
The commission published a scathing 814-page report in November 2009 in which diocesan officials in Ireland’s largest diocese, including bishops, were roundly condemned for covering up and mishandling reports of sexual abuse of children.
The priest association’s review was conducted by Fergal Sweeney, a retired Hong Kong High Court judge. The association represents about one-third of Ireland’s priests.
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