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Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry: Cardinal Sean Brady admits 'shroud of secrecy' over Church sex abuse inquiry Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry: Cardinal Seán Brady admits 'shroud of secrecy' over Church sex abuse inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
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 has said internal church inquiries into child abuse took place under a "shroud of secrecy" to "save the church from scandal".
The former head of the Catholic Church in Ireland told Northern Ireland's Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) this was very regrettable. The former head of the Catholic church in Ireland told Northern Ireland's Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) this was very regrettable.
He is being questioned about the paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth. He is giving evidence about the paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth.
Cardinal Brady also admitted he did not consider the impact on Smyth's victims during a 1975 internal inquiry. Cardinal Brady admitted that the internal inquiry process in 1975 was "intimidating" for some witnesses.
He admitted that intrusive questions were posed to one of the young victims and that this was "intimidating". "There was a shroud of secrecy and confidentiality with a view to not destroying the good name of the church," he told the inquiry.
Oath
Intrusive questions were posed to one of the young victims, Cardinal Brady said.
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 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. Cardinal Brady, the retired archbishop of Armagh, said the church had been preoccupied with gathering evidence so that action could be taken against Smyth
As a result, insufficient thought was given to the victims.
"We didn't take into account sufficiently, at all, the impact and the care that was needed for the boys and their parents," the 75 year-old said.
"That was a mistake. That was wrong."
Hundreds
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.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 this week 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. It has also emerged that police in Dublin were aware of his paedophilia more than 20 years before he was convicted.
Rretired judge Sir Anthony Hart is leading the inquiry, examining allegations of child abuse in church, state and voluntary children's residential institutions dating back to 1922.