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Report criticises abuse cover-up Report criticises abuse cover-up
(10 minutes later)
A damning report into clerical child abuse in the Dublin archdiocese has criticised the church authorities for covering up the abuse. A damning report into clerical child abuse in the Dublin archdiocese has criticised the Church authorities for covering up the abuse.
The report investigated how Church and state authorities handled allegations of child abuse against 46 priests.The report investigated how Church and state authorities handled allegations of child abuse against 46 priests.
It found that the church placed its own reputation above the protection of children in its care. It found that the Church placed its own reputation above the protection of children in its care.
It also said that state authorities facilitated the cover-up by allowing the church to operate outside the law. It also said that state authorities facilitated the cover-up by allowing the Church to operate outside the law.
The "Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin" covered a period from 1975 to 2004 and has laid bare a culture of concealment where church leaders prioritised the protection of their own institution above that of vulnerable children in their care.The "Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin" covered a period from 1975 to 2004 and has laid bare a culture of concealment where church leaders prioritised the protection of their own institution above that of vulnerable children in their care.
Instead of reporting the allegations to civic authorities, those accused of horrific crimes were systematically shuffled from parish to parish where they could prey on new, unsuspecting victims.Instead of reporting the allegations to civic authorities, those accused of horrific crimes were systematically shuffled from parish to parish where they could prey on new, unsuspecting victims.
'Disturbing reading''Disturbing reading'
The avoidance of public scandal which would inevitably follow high-profile prosecutions was more important it seems, than preventing abusers of repeating their crimes.The avoidance of public scandal which would inevitably follow high-profile prosecutions was more important it seems, than preventing abusers of repeating their crimes.
The report found that four archbishops - John Charles McQuaid who died in 1973, Dermot Ryan who died in 1984, Kevin McNamara who died in 1987, and retired Cardinal Desmond Connell - did not hand over information on abusers.The report found that four archbishops - John Charles McQuaid who died in 1973, Dermot Ryan who died in 1984, Kevin McNamara who died in 1987, and retired Cardinal Desmond Connell - did not hand over information on abusers.
Civic authorities were also criticised and the commissioner of the Irish police, Fachtna Murphy, said the report made for "difficult and disturbing reading, detailing as it does many instances of sexual abuse and failure on the part of both Church and State authorities to protect victims".Civic authorities were also criticised and the commissioner of the Irish police, Fachtna Murphy, said the report made for "difficult and disturbing reading, detailing as it does many instances of sexual abuse and failure on the part of both Church and State authorities to protect victims".
He added: "The commission has found that in some cases, because of acts or omissions, individuals who sought assistance did not always receive the level of response or protection which any citizen in trouble is entitled to expect from An Garda Síochána (the Irish police).He added: "The commission has found that in some cases, because of acts or omissions, individuals who sought assistance did not always receive the level of response or protection which any citizen in trouble is entitled to expect from An Garda Síochána (the Irish police).
He said he was "deeply sorry" for the failures.He said he was "deeply sorry" for the failures.
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