Tonight: Cardinal Brady and the Irish Property Council

Monday, 15 Mar 2010

The scandal that never seems to go away has taken another twist with Cardinal Sean Brady facing new calls for his resignation over the revelation that he participated in a confidential internal Catholic church inquiry into the paedophile activities of the notorious Father Brendan Smyth as long ago as 1975. Although the then Father Brady heard the testimony of two of Smyth's victims and has made it clear that he believed them, no contact was made with Gardai and Smyth remained at large and in a position to abuse many more victims over the following 20 years. Cardinal Brady has argued that he carried out his duty by reporting the matter to his bishop as a result of which Smyth was removed from his "pastoral ministry" and that it's not reasonable to judge the events of 1975 by the standards of today. Nevertheless abuse survivors have called for him to resign. What do you think? Is Cardinal Brady's ability to embody the necessary high standards now fatally undermined? Or should allowances be made for the tendency of a relatively young priest to assume that his superiors knew best?

Also, while mega developer Johnny Ronan has hit the headlines with his lavish lifestyle other property investors say they're being unfairly scapegoated. A new group called the Irish Property Council has been set up to represent smaller property investors who, they say, are not getting the understanding they need from the banks or the Government. They'll be with us to debate the issue with Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit.

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Comments:

It is important to remember that Sean Brady is being judged by a standard that is still only aspirational today, i.e mandatory reporting to civil authority. If an abusive situation comes to the attention of a junior or senior member in any organisation, religious or secular,their only obligation is to pass it on to the Designated Liason Person in their own organisation; if that person fails to act correctly, the person to whom the abuse was reported is not culpable by today's modern Child Protection Standards. In effect, this is what Sean Brady did over 30 years ago.Therefore, is it fair to judge him by a modern aspirational standard about which there is still no agreement in law or in principle? The same thing could happen again tomorrow in any organisation in the absence of mandatory reporting!

Posted by Sean M on March 15, 2010 at 07:55 PM GMT #

It was widely known in Cavan what was going on in Kilnacrott. Doctors, Gardai, Parents etc. Parents moved children to other schools. The clergy are not the only people at fault. My family had a pub in Cavan and the "carry on" in Kilnacrott was regularly discussed

Posted by 192.168.24.19 on March 15, 2010 at 09:17 PM GMT #

The developers are not to blame, its the international bankers; Rothschild, JP Morgan, Rockefeller etc. A new MUST SEE documentary explaining the REAL history of the banks, called "The Secret Of Oz". Our governments need to take their power back from the bankers and print our own money instead of borrowing off the banks at interest! Watch The Secret Of Oz: http://www.theopensource.tv/the-money-masters/the-secret-of-oz-video_82fa50cc4.html

Posted by Francis on March 15, 2010 at 10:44 PM GMT #

Brady has to go, it was his lawful duty to report the sick torture of children, his failure to do so meant many other children were abused, therefore he is as guilty as the ones who committed the crime. This evil organisation needs to be immediately dismantled, all its assets sold and distributed to the victims.

Posted by Stephen Kearon on March 15, 2010 at 10:44 PM GMT #

Sean Brady is a liar, Brendan Smith heard my confession during the 90's so he prevented nothing! I was one of the lucky one's that escaped anything happening me despite coming into contact with him however there were so many others that were not.

Posted by Elaine Smith on March 15, 2010 at 10:44 PM GMT #

cardinal brady should not resign. he was not the designated person to act. lets face reality any future Cardinal would have acted no different if they were in Cardinal Brady's position. The church as a unit is responsible but The Cardinal Brady should not be singled out because his superiors at the time are deceased.

Posted by martina on March 15, 2010 at 10:49 PM GMT #

re confirmation. Parents should ask if the bishop who is going to confirm their children has been involve4d in cover ups. The benedictine abbot is a bishop and he could confirm children.

Posted by c.w on March 15, 2010 at 11:01 PM GMT #

The victim of a crime isn't necessarily helped by the jailing of the perpetrator of the crime. But that's not an argument against the punishment of a perpetrator. A 36 year old canon lawyer should know that the evidence he heard from those two children related to a crime more than it related to an infringement of Canon Law. As such and as a lawyer, of whatever stripe, on hearing the testimony, he should have referred the matter to the Gardaí.

Posted by Concubhar O Liatháin on March 15, 2010 at 11:05 PM GMT #

Low amounts of money in the money supply lead to a recession, high amounts of money in the money supply lead to prosperity. The banks control how much money is in the money supply therefore the banks are INTENTIONALLY causing a the world wide recession. Some have speculated that this is being done to bring in a new world currency.

Posted by Fran on March 15, 2010 at 11:08 PM GMT #

Where were these guys when their members were screwing young couples for shoebox apartments and houses around the country? Let's deal with the legacy of the mortgage millstones around the necks of these families before we even consider the so called suffering of greedy builders. Cllr. Harry Barrett

Posted by harry barrett on March 15, 2010 at 11:14 PM GMT #

Why should we have any sympathy for those people who got into the position they're in through utter greed. It's the people who are in trouble through no fault of their own who need to helped by the government. Where do these people get the gall to look for any pity from us, they're the reason we're in this mess!

Posted by Marc Douglas on March 15, 2010 at 11:14 PM GMT #

After the Ryan report, I heard the institutional child abuse scandal described as Ireland's Holocaust. I thought the analogy to be an inappropriate exaggeration at the time but was reminded of it again this weekend after hearing Cardinal Daly's astonishing Nuremberg defence. His remaining in office speaks volumes about the Church Hierarchy's sincerity in dealing with Clerical Child Abuse. Thomas Heary, Dublin

Posted by Tom Heary on March 15, 2010 at 11:16 PM GMT #

Any solution must be equitable and recognise that those who did not engage in the property speculation bubble should not have to bail out their neighbours who sought to make a "quick buck" - there should be recognition of risk/reward principle. I wonder, if things had turned out differently, would we be now having a debate about how to share the spoils gained - I doubt it! If only the money had been invested in job creation and export industries.

Posted by BES Investor on March 15, 2010 at 11:26 PM GMT #

Pat, These are the people that effectively caused the bubble by INVADING my industry. Now after 30 years BUILDING and not speculating I'm like many many others on the scrapheap. I have no sympathy for any of these "professional" classes that as Owen O'Callaghan said were Speculators masquerading as Developers. Good Show

Posted by Garreth Mathews on March 15, 2010 at 11:28 PM GMT #

just to comment on the the cover up of the abuse of two children by a pervert priest. Words just can not describe the way I feel about the response of this person Called bishop brady. The only thing he seems to care about is his own career. He refuses to resign and not a word from him about the abuse that was perpetrated on minds of the unmatured.To add that all he seems to be doing is defending his actions. he or the seemingly pro bishop Brady people on the panel appear to be saying there is law but when it comes to certain padeophilic acts in the past, the due process of law is/ has to be psychologically suspendened. When that is done, everything reverts back to business as usual.As you are now discussing on your show about the property boom is just another example of speculators, developers,politicians and bankers shirking shirking responsibility for their past actions. If this is not true then why are we paying income levies and health levies from our income as well as all the other deductions we have to pay . Why is the unemployment rate so high. Why is public debt so high. We only owe 38 billion Euros. I think the lady is right when she she said that we should start anew at least we will know that these people will not be tainted by the mismanagement/misgovernance and squandering of scarce our resources

Posted by liam on March 15, 2010 at 11:35 PM GMT #

Just watching the show tonight. I cannot understand where people are coming from when they day what good would it do by the Cardinal resigning or saying that was 30 years ago, it shows me they do not understand sex abuse. come on get real and accept that rotten apples have to be dealt with and people who aid or enable abusers to continue abusing should be also held accountable

Posted by Theresa Morley on March 15, 2010 at 11:47 PM GMT #

Shocked watching last nites programme that its even been mentioned that taxpayers should help in some ways towards developers debts, was disappointed that guy in audience who asked what we would get back for bailing them out question wasnt even answered? Right now Banks are still trying to keep house prices up by offering people who have savings a big mortgage then when you go back saying you found cheaper house they dont want to lend the smaller ammount, Why, just so as to keep property prices up? They need to cut losses, sell their shoe boxes for what they are worth or rent them out to council tenants,and get over it, guy from people before profit was right we dont need more houses and we arent getting a return to false economy which is what celtic tiger was. We need to make sure this never is allowed go on again and maybe best way for that is to let the developers experience the natural consequence for their greed...huge debt..

Posted by Nikki on March 16, 2010 at 11:50 PM GMT #

Hello Pat, Your show is great and really gets to the core of the issues. If you are having a discussion on the Churches scandal on Monday 22 March could you poise the following question: If the Pope were to lead the way forward by example and step down, would it help repair some of the damage done to the church? Thanks Laoisa

Posted by Laoisa on March 19, 2010 at 03:40 PM GMT #

Im astounded at the focus on culpability and the attitude that one reports to seniors and if they dont do anything well then it doesnt matter. Yes today we see more cases in court although the prosecution rates are dismal, yes it was 30 years ago and different time, but tell me where is the moral responsibility, that was there 30 years ago just like it is today. The letter released is bogus, it did not address the real problem which is power and hierachy.

Posted by M. Doyle on March 22, 2010 at 02:12 AM GMT #

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