Govt approves inquiry into child sexual abuse
Tuesday, 22 October 2002 19:51
Bishop Eamon Walsh of the Diocese of Ferns has said he welcomes the Government's announcement that there will be a non-statutory inquiry into clerical sex abuse in the diocese.
The decision comes seven months after the BBC documentary 'Suing the Pope', which forced the Bishop of Ferns, Brendan Comiskey, to resign. In a statement, Bishop Walsh said Mr Justice Frank Murphy would have his full cooperation.
Minister would welcome statement from Cardinal ConnellMeanwhile, the Minister for Health, Micheal Martin, has said he would welcome a statement from Cardinal Desmond Connell on the allegations in RTE's Prime Time programme on his diocese's handling of abuse by clergy.
Mr Martin also rejected as unacceptable suggestions that considerations of church law should influence State inquiries into child sexual abuse by priests and religious.
He was speaking after announcing the non-statutory inquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge into clerical sex abuse in the Diocese of Ferns.
Gardaí entitled to expect co-operation of all citizens say Taoiseach Earlier, the Taoiseach told the Dáil that today's Cabinet meeting gave preliminary consideration to Thursday's RTE Prime Time programme about the handling of paedophile priests in Dublin. Mr Ahern said the Gardaí were entitled to expect the co-operation of all citizens within the law regardless of who they were or where they come from.
He said that out of consideration to victims whose stories were told by the BBC in March, the Minister for Health would go ahead and announce a non-statutory inquiry into the handling of allegations of child sex abuse in the Diocese of Ferns.
Inquiry to be based on Bermingham reportThe form of inquiry in Ferns will be based on Senior Counsel George Bermingham's report to the Government on the best way to investigate claims in the documentary 'Suing the Pope'.
Earlier this year, Bishop Eamon Walsh who took over from Bishop Comiskey at Ferns said Mr Birmingham could decide which diocesan documents were relevant to the coming inquiry.
- Morning Ireland: Jonathan Clynch reports the views expressed by a number of Church commentators yesterday
- Morning Ireland: Fr Colm Kilcoyne, Press Officer for the National Congress of Priests and Monsignor Maurice Dooley, former professor of Canon law at St Patrick's College Thurles, discuss ecclesiastical inaction on child sexual abuse
- Morning Ireland: Fr Harry Bohan from Co Clare blames clericalism which he says has dominated the Church and Irish society
- 6.01 News: Joe Little, Religious and Social Affairs Correspondent, reports
- 6.01 News: Micheál Martin, Minister for Health and Children, discusses the decision to announce a non-statutory inquiry into clerical abuse in the Ferns diocese
- 9.00 News: Annette O'Donnell reports on the latest developments
- Prime Time: Michael Heney reports on accusations made against two priests
- Prime Time: Mike Milotte reports on the possibility of criminal prosecutions
- Prime Time: Monsignor Maurice Dooley, former Professor of Canon Law at St Patrick's College, Thurles, Micheal Martin, Minister for Health & Children, Colm O'Gorman, Spokesperson for 'One In Four' and Fr Jackie Robinson, parish priest in Borris-in-Ossory discuss the issues
