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Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry: Cardinal Sean Brady arrives to give evidence Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry: Cardinal Sean Brady admits 'shroud of secrecy' over Church sex abuse inquiry
(about 2 hours later)
The former leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has arrived at a public inquiry into abuse by the paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth. Cardinal Sean Brady has said internal church inquiries into child abuse took place under a "shroud of secrecy'" to "save the church from scandal".
Cardinal Seán Brady will address Northern Ireland's Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry about a "secret" church inquiry into Smyth's behaviour in 1975. The former head of the Catholic Church in Ireland told Northern Ireland's Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) this was very regrettable.
The senior cleric has already provided a statement to the inquiry. He is being questioned about the paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth.
He has admitted that he now recognises that the church inquiry was flawed. Cardinal Brady also admitted he did not consider the impact on Smyth's victims during a 1975 internal inquiry.
He admitted that intrusive questions were posed to one of the young victims and that this was "intimidating".
The boy had been made to sign an oath of secrecy when priests, including Cardinal Brady, then a young priest, interviewed him about his allegations.
The cardinal explained that he was so preoccupied with getting evidence so that action could be taken against Smyth, that he and others did not sufficiently consider abused children and their parents.
The senior cleric has already provided a statement to the inquiry in which he admitted that he now recognises that the church inquiry was flawed.
Smyth was at the centre of one of the first clerical child sex abuse scandals to rock the Catholic Church in Ireland.Smyth was at the centre of one of the first clerical child sex abuse scandals to rock the Catholic Church in Ireland.
The inquiry heard on Monday that Smyth admitted he could have abused hundreds of children.The inquiry heard on Monday that Smyth admitted he could have abused hundreds of children.
He was convicted in the 1990s of more than 100 indecent assaults against children, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, over a 40-year period.He was convicted in the 1990s of more than 100 indecent assaults against children, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, over a 40-year period.
He died in prison in 1997 after a heart attack.He died in prison in 1997 after a heart attack.
The inquiry, led by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, is examining child abuse allegations in church, state and voluntary children's residential institutions dating back to 1922.The inquiry, led by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, is examining child abuse allegations in church, state and voluntary children's residential institutions dating back to 1922.