BishopAccountability.org
	Priest in Sex Abuse Row Was Subject of Another Complaint By Jimmy Woulfe One in Four [Ireland] April 19, 2006 http://www.irishexaminer.com/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sgwqnnX0faA-Usgdq-nXlDAyFE.asp By Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent THE priest whose alleged sexual abuse has been linked to the tragic death of a former Limerick altar boy was at the centre of a second complaint in another Limerick parish, the Limerick Diocesan office confirmed last night. A spokesperson said two priests were alerted in the 1980s of an improper approach made by Fr Denis Daly, the priest at the centre of the Peter McCloskey allegations. The priests did nothing about the complaint, which concerned a young man living in the Janesboro area, beyond telling the boy's father he should contact the gardai'. A spokesperson for the diocese said: "During our investigations of Fr Daly's time in Limerick, we have also become aware of one matter giving rise for concern. An allegation of which there was no record on file had been made to two priests in the 1980s of an improper gesture or suggestion by Fr Daly towards a young man who rebuffed him." Clare-born Fr Daly returned to Limerick nearly 30 years ago from Australia after he had come to the notice of Australian police. He served for four years as a priest in Limerick during which time Mr McCloskey, an altar boy in the parish of Caherdavin, claimed he was sexually abused by the priest. He was 10 at the time. Mr McCloskey, a 37-year-old father of three, was found dead on April 1. His family say he was traumatised by conciliation talks he had with representatives of the Diocese of Limerick days earlier. Referring to the second complaint about Fr Daly, the diocesan spokesperson said unsatisfactory though it was, they could not take the matter any further as the complainant and Fr Daly are dead. The spokesperson also confirmed there was no record that then Bishop of Limerick Dr Jeremiah Newman carried out a check with the Diocese of Sydney before allowing Fr Daly to minister in Limerick. Another Irish diocese turned down a request from Fr Daly for a position after they checked him out with the Church in Sydney. The Diocese of Sydney had a record of a "moral lapse" by Fr Daly.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.