Joe Little

Religious & Social Affairs Correspondent

Malachy Finegan was president of St Colman's Grammar School in Newry

McAleese brother calls on people to report priest abuse

A survivor of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of the paedophile priest Malachy Finegan has called on anyone who turned a blind eye to Finegan's abuse of children to immediately tell the police what they know.

Ireland • 13 Mar 18

Bishops will 'fully co-operate' with any abuse inquiry

The Catholic bishops have said they will fully cooperate with any statutory inquiry into clerical child sexual abuse, following former President Mary McAleese's call for a public inquiry into the Church's response to child abuse allegations against Father Malachy Finegan.

Ireland • 14 Mar 18

The Bishop of Dromore, John McAreavey, says he wrestled with the decision to resign over recent weeks

Bishop of Dromore releases statement on resignation

The Bishop of Dromore, John McAreavey, who announced his resignation earlier this week amid controversies over his handling of a paedophile priest, has told his diocese that he wrestled with the decision for a number of weeks.

Ireland • 03 Mar 18

Malachy Finegan served as President of St Colman's College in Newry

Call for inquiry over response to NI abuse allegations

Amnesty International has supported a call by the solicitor for a number of victims of a paedophile priest in Northern Ireland for a public inquiry into the Catholic Church's response to child abuse allegations there.

Ulster • 14 Mar 18

Retired judge Mary Laffoy said she was satisfied the incident had no impact on the Assembly's work

Citizens' Assembly agreed with recruiters' pay rise

The Citizens' Assembly has said that it agreed with the Red C polling company that recruiters' pay should be increased for last December's search for replacement members of the forum.

Ireland • 22 Feb 18

Today's report was a voluntary audit of 135 orders, congregations and missionary societies

'Significant' church child safeguarding weaknesses

Five Catholic religious orders have been criticised by a Tusla audit for their "significant (child) safeguarding weaknesses".

Ireland • 20 Feb 18

Ireland performed poorly on long-term unemployment

Ireland towards bottom of sustainable progress index

Ireland has come 11th out of 15 similar EU countries in a newly-published Sustainable Progress Index.

Ireland • 20 Feb 18

The Children's Rights Alliance report on Government services shows mental health services have improved marginally

Almost 7,000 children await psychology appointments

Almost 7,000 children under the age of 17 were waiting for an appointment with a Health Service Executive psychologist at the end of last July, according to official figures.

Health • 13 Feb 18

HIQA has been informed of the abuse allegations

Five staff on paid leave after care centre abuse claims

An organisation providing residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities has put five staff from one of its centres on paid leave pending two investigations into allegations of abuse.

Ireland • 06 Feb 18

The statement was issued by Archbishop of Armagh Dr Richard Clarke (pictured) and Archbishop of Dublin Dr Michael Jackson

CoI leaders say Article 40.3.3 should be modified

The Church of Ireland's two most senior leaders have rejected unrestricted access to abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as unethical.

Ireland • 05 Feb 18