Bishop to assist Cardinal Brady a possibility

Speculation is growing that the Vatican may appoint a Bishop to assist Cardinal Sean Brady who is under growing pressure to stand aside over his role in the Fr Brendan Smyth affair.

The Catholic Press Office today rejected a report today that the Cardinal offered to step down two years ago.

However the office says that Cardinal Brady did request Episcopal support in 2010 and that request has now been reactivated.

Michael Kelly is deputy editor of the Irish Catholic:

"I think this current controversy, and the fall out from it, will make it very very clear to Rome that they do need to act swiftly and act decisively, and appoint a coagular archbishop.", he said.

"That would allow Sean Brady the space to say he wasn't being hounded out or he wasn't being driven out. I know from talking to people close to him he's very keen that it is not seen that he's driven from office because he frankly doesn't believe that he should resign based on this issue".