BishopAccountability.org
	Diocese to Examine Sex Abuse Allegations McCloskeys Say Diocese Has 'A Lot to Learn' By Jimmy Woulfe One in Four [Ireland] April 25, 2006 http://www.oneinfour.org/news/news2006/examine/ The diocese of Limerick has agreed to carry out an investigation into its handling of the Peter McCloskey sexual abuse allegations. Following a meeting with family of Mr McCloskey, a former altar boy, who died tragically after complaining he had been abused by a priest, the diocese announced the decision. The diocese admitted it failed to properly inform itself as to Fr Denis Daly's suitability for ministry. Fr Daly was accused by Peter McCloskey of abusing him when Fr Daly worked in Caherdavin parish. The abuse was alleged to have happened around 1980 when the priest returned from Australia after being ordered out of New South Wales by police over a "moral lapse". Mr McCloskey, 37, died tragically earlier this month, days after he walked out of mediation talks with representatives of the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray. The diocese has admitted complaints had been made to two priests by a boy in a second Limerick parish about improper approaches from Fr Daly but the priests had not followed up these complaints, instead advising the boy's parents to complain to gardai. Peter McCloskey's brother Joseph, said at a six-hour meeting on Sunday with Bishop Murray and diocesan representatives, it was decided to carry out an investigation. Mr McCloskey said: "The diocese's acknowledgement of failure is wholly significant." He said the diocese had a lot to learn from this case. A joint statement from the McCloskey family and the diocese stated Peter McCloskey's commitment to the truth demands all those involved work to examine and address the grave issues which have been raised. The statement added: "The diocese of Limerick acknowledges that there was a failure on its part to properly inform itself as to Fr Denis Daly's suitability for ministry in the diocese and the appropriateness of allowing him to minister to the diocese. The diocese accepts that the information available at that time should have prevented Fr Daly from taking up ministry in Limerick." The statement said the examination of the events will be a challenging and at times uncomfortable process. "But we affirm our commitment to work together to that end," the statement concluded. The McCloskey family issued scathing criticism of Bishop Murray during a press conference over a week ago in Dublin.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.