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Mother of Clerical Sexual Abuse Victim Calls for Bishop to Resign By Jim Morahan Irish Examiner April 18, 2006 http://www.irishexaminer.com/pport/web/ireland/ Full_Story/did-sgAnuhfuMwh4csgdq-nXlDAyFE.asp THE mother of clerical sex abuse victim Peter McCloskey yesterday called on the Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray, to resign. Mother-of-three Mary McCloskey said she believed the actions of the Limerick diocese were directly responsible for her son's death. Ms McCloskey held a news conference with her son Joseph, 39, who described the distress suffered by Peter when the mediation process broke down. Peter, 37, died this month two days after the collapse of the mediation process with the diocese. Four in One support group leader Colm O'Gorman expressed shock and dismay at statements made by Bishop Murray. Mr O'Gorman called for the confidentiality agreement Mr McCloskey signed as part of the mediation process to be waived to allow the truth to emerge. He rejected suggestions that the late Mr McCloskey walked out of the mediation. Mr O'Gorman claimed the bishop was aware Mr McCloskey was travelling to Australia to find out the truth about the priest who abused him and that arrangements were made for him to meet with Australian Church sources. He said Mr McCloskey travelled to Australia in 2004 and uncovered the offending priest's file held by Sydney diocese. It showed nearly 30 years' of correspondence between Church authorities in Australia and Ireland. Mr McCloskey had claimed he was abused by Clare-born priest Fr Denis Daly when he served as an altar boy at 10 years of age. Fr Daly returned from Australia to serve four years in Limerick, having fallen foul of New South Wales police over a "moral lapse" in 1963. He died in 1987. Yesterday, Ms McCloskey said she believed her son's death was preventable. Bishop Murray and diocesan secretary Fr Paul Finnerty appeared on RTE TV's Prime Time programme following Mr McCloskey's death. In her statement, Ms McCloskey vehemently rejected both clerics' comments "that they walked the journey with my son Peter, in their pastoral care. Peter walked his journey without any sincere support from the diocese." A spokesperson for Bishop Murray said Mr McCloskey's death was deeply upsetting for all who knew him. Bishop Murray had been, and would continue to be, available to meet Peter's family and support them "in any way he can at this difficult time and to discuss concerns that they may have". |
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