CLONFERT BISHOP APOLOGISES AS REPORT REVEALS 9 ALLEGATIONS AGAINST 4 PRIESTS

Date Published: 05-Sep-2012

The Bishop of Clonfert has apologised for his personal involvement in dealing with the actions of two priests who sexually abused in the diocese in the past.

Bishop John Kirby moved the priests to different parishes after allegations were made in the early 90s.

A report on the diocese of Clonfert published today reveals a total of 9 allegations were made against four priests within the dioceses between 1975 and 2011.

The 1990 allegation against 'Priest A' was reported in three days to the Western Health Board, but not reported by them to the Gardaí until a year later.

The 1993 allegation against priest B was not reported at that time, but a further allegation against the priest in 1995 was reported in four days and included the 1993 allegation.

A report on the diocese of Clonfert states that before the publication of the Child Sexual Abuse: Framework for a church response document in 1996, Bishop Kirby did not have any national safeguarding guidance or training in the management of cases of alleged child sexual abuse.

A total of 9 allegations were made against four priests who worked in the diocese of Clonfert between 1975 and 2011.

3 allegations were made against priest A, 2 allegations made against priest B, and 1 allegation was made against priest C.

Three allegations were made against a fourth priest who was a member of a religious order who provided 3 weeks of holiday cover in 1981.

In addition to these four cases, the fieldwork team was made aware of three other priests against who allegations or complaints of child sexual abuse had been made in the past in relation to their postings outside the parish of Clonfert.