IRELAND
Association of Catholic Priests
Padraig McCarthy reviews Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s response to the legal review of the Murphy Report, agreeing that it makes valid points — but also pointing out that there is more to be said.
The day following the launch at the ACP AGM of the legal review by Fergal Sweeney of the Murphy Report, the Irish Times published an item under the heading “Martin defends Murphy report“. This referred to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s statement on the Dublin diocesan website. It is worthwhile noting that Archbishop Martin did not contradict what Fergal Sweeney wrote. The Archbishop said that children abused by priests must be remembered during any criticisms of the Murphy Report. In saying that, Archbishop Martin is fully in agreement with Fergal Sweeney, who emphasises the same point. Any criticism of the Murphy Report must indeed recognise that the Report is to be valued greatly for its vindication and validation of the accounts of those who were abused.
On other matters, some qualification may be useful. Archbishop Martin says that diocesan officials had no problem in being accompanied by their lawyers.
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