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| Bishop resigns over abuse report | Bishop resigns over abuse report |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An Irish bishop has resigned, weeks after his handling of child sex abuse allegations was severely criticised. | |
| A report on abuse by priests in the Dublin Archdiocese found Donal Murray's handling of one case while an auxiliary bishop in the 1980s was "inexcusable". | A report on abuse by priests in the Dublin Archdiocese found Donal Murray's handling of one case while an auxiliary bishop in the 1980s was "inexcusable". |
| The Vatican said the Pope had accepted his resignation as bishop of Limerick. | |
| Dr Murray said: "I know full well my resignation cannot undo the pain that survivors of abuse have suffered in the past and continue to suffer each day." | |
| The Murphy report into abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese from 1975 to 2004 was highly critical of the Catholic church hierarchy's handling of priests suspected of being child abusers. | |
| To all survivors of abuse, I repeat that my primary concern is to assist in every way that I can on their journey towards finding closure and serenity Dr Donal Murray Bishop Donal Murray resignation: Q&A | |
| The report said many bishops were more concerned with preserving the reputation of the church rather than protecting children. | The report said many bishops were more concerned with preserving the reputation of the church rather than protecting children. |
| It found that during Dr Murray's time as an auxiliary bishop in Dublin from 1982 to 1996, he was dismissive of complaints about a priest who went on to abuse again. | |
| Dr Murray said on Thursday he had taken time to study the report in full before deciding to resign. | |
| "I humbly apologise once again to all who were abused as little children," he said. | |
| "To all survivors of abuse, I repeat that my primary concern is to assist in every way that I can on their journey towards finding closure and serenity. | |
| "I asked the Holy Father to allow me to resign and to appoint a new bishop to the diocese because I believe that my presence will create difficulties for some of the survivors who must have first place in our thoughts and prayers." | |
| Dr Murray held talks about his future with the Pope in the Vatican last week. | |
| He said Pope Benedict had accepted his resignation on Monday but agreed that Dr Murray should return to Limerick to allow him be in his diocese when the announcement was made. | |
| 'Inexcusable' | 'Inexcusable' |
| The Murphy report said Bishop Murray did not deal properly with the suspicions and concerns that were expressed to him in relation to one priest, Fr Tom Naughton in 1983. | |
| A short time later, factual evidence of Naughton's abusing emerged in another parish. | A short time later, factual evidence of Naughton's abusing emerged in another parish. |
| The Murphy report found Bishop Murray's failure to reinvestigate the earlier suspicions was "inexcusable". | The Murphy report found Bishop Murray's failure to reinvestigate the earlier suspicions was "inexcusable". |
| In May 1998, Naughton pleaded guilty to six counts of indecently assaulting three boys in 1985 and 1986. He was jailed for three years, reduced on appeal to two and a half years. | In May 1998, Naughton pleaded guilty to six counts of indecently assaulting three boys in 1985 and 1986. He was jailed for three years, reduced on appeal to two and a half years. |
| On Wednesday Naughton was jailed again - this time for three years for sexually abusing an altar boy between 1982 and 1984. | On Wednesday Naughton was jailed again - this time for three years for sexually abusing an altar boy between 1982 and 1984. |