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Irish Church 'covered up abuse' Irish Church 'covered up abuse'
(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 Catholic Church hierarchy 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.The "Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin" covered a period from 1975 to 2004.
It 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.It 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.
VictimsVictims
The avoidance of public outrage which would inevitably follow high-profile prosecutions appeared more important than preventing abusers from repeating their crimes.
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.
The avoidance of public scandal which would inevitably follow high-profile prosecutions appeared more important than preventing abusers from repeating their crimes. The report stated: "The Dublin Archdiocese's pre-occupations in dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, at least until the mid 1990s, were the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the Church, and the preservation of its assets."
Church and state authorities colluded to cover up child abuseChurch and state authorities colluded to cover up child abuse
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. It also 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 for their cosy relationship with the Church. Civic authorities in Ireland, especially the police, were also criticised for their cosy relationship with the Church.
It states that senior members of the force regarded priests as being outside their remit and it claims some police officers reported abuse complaints to Church authorities instead of carrying out their own investigation.
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".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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