A 28-year-old Dublin man has received an apology and financial settlement from Cardinal Desmond Connell and the Dublin Archdiocese.
Mervyn Rundle from Donnycarney was abused by Father Tom Naughton in the mid-1980s. The priest received a three-year jail sentence in 1998.
In a statement read on his behalf in the High Court today, Cardinal Connell said he profoundly regretted the injury to Mr Rundle and sincerely apologised to him and his family.
High Court statement
The statement read in court is as follows:
'Cardinal Connell profoundly regrets the injury caused to Mervyn Rundle by Fr Tom Naughton and sincerely apologises to him and to his family for what has occurred.
'On behalf of the Archdiocese of Dublin the Cardinal acknowledges that in 1985 Mr Rundle, then a young boy, was the victim of serious sexual abuse by Fr Naughton, who was then a curate in Donnycarney parish. The Cardinal, also acknowledges that Mr Rundle was grievously injured by this abuse which has had devastating consequences for him and that the abuse has also caused much distress to his family.
'It is also acknowledged that before the abuse of Mr Rundle occurred, reasons for concern about the conduct of Fr Naughton had emerged which, had they been more successfully pursued, could have resulted in his being withdrawn from parochial duties.
'The paramount concern for the future is the protection of all children against the risk of sexual abuse. The Cardinal shares with Mr Rundle a determination that all possible steps be taken to prevent any other child or family from enduring what has been suffered by Mr Rundle and his family.
'The circumstances of Mr Rundle's injury, and its consequences, further underline to the Archdiocese the importance of an effective and prompt response to any complaint of sexual abuse against a priest; including, where appropriate, an acknowledgement that abuse has occurred and the implementation of measures to protect agains tthe risk of further abuse.
'Lessons have been learned from Mr Rundle's pain and trauma and that of others which has been and will continue to be, applied in dealing with any future complaints.'
