Bishop appeals to parishes to help meet cost of abuse cases

The Bishop of Ferns is turning to the parishes in his diocese to help meet the cost of clerical abuse claims.

The diocese has so far made 48 settlements, costing a total of over €8.1m, while there are 13 civil actions still being processed.

Ferns diocese has also paid more than €2m in legal fees arising from co-operation with the Bermingham and Ferns inquiries into abuse.

Bishop Denis Brennan says seeking funding from the parishes is not about sharing the blame, it's about "asking for help fo fulfil a God given responsibility".