NORTHERN IRELAND
The Irish News
March 7, 2018
By Brendan Hughes
THE priest temporarily in charge of the Diocese of Dromore following the resignation of its bishop over the Malachy Finegan scandal is a former head of the school where the cleric sexually abused pupils.
Canon Liam Stevenson and the Catholic Church last night did not address questions about his role, including when he first became aware of allegations against Finegan.
The parish priest of St Peter’s and St Paul’s in Lurgan has taken responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the diocese until a permanent replacement for Dr John McAreavey is selected.
Dr McAreavey announced his resignation last week after it emerged he celebrated Mass alongside Finegan despite knowing he was a paedophile. He had previously admitted making an “error of judgment” by officiating at his funeral Mass.
Finegan, who died in 2002, has been accused of a catalogue of sexual and physical abuse against boys on church premises and at St Colman’s College in Newry. He was never questioned by police or prosecuted.
He worked in St Colman’s from 1967 and was president of the college from 1976 to 1987.
Canon Stevenson, Vicar General of the diocese, also worked at the college from the 1970s, teaching maths, physics and religion.
He was appointed vice-principal in 1993 and president the following year, working in this role until September 2000.
The Dromore diocese has said the first allegation against Finegan arose in 1994, seven years after the priest left St Colman’s.
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