- NEWS
Shatter: Garda chief told me about WallaceEmbattled Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the Garda commissioner gave him details about TD Mick Wallace escaping penalty points and that he publicly revealed it to defend the integrity of the force.
Panicked last minutes aboard the Tit Bonhomme revealed at inquest Rarely has a voice ever carried so much panic.
- WORLD
Horror and heroism as tornado wreaks havocThe search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb raked by a massive tornado was almost complete last night.
Chile miner happy to be played by Banderas in filmAntonio Banderas will star in a movie as one of the 33 Chilean miners trapped deep underground for more than two months in 2010, and the charismatic survivor he's playing couldn't be happier.
- BUSINESS
Smooth exit from bailout forecastIreland is heading for a smooth exit from the bailout programme as GDP grows — delivering a huge political and reputational reward for the country, according to the latest Ernst & Young Economic Eye.
Glanbia’s Talbot first woman to take helm at a major Irish food companySiobhan Talbot is set to succeed John Moloney as group managing director of Glanbia, at the end of this year — becoming the first woman to head up a major Irish food company.
- SPORT
Deegan in dock over advantage ruleArmagh's Jamie Clarke has cleared Paul Grimley of all responsibility for Sunday's defeat by Cavan, but questioned referee Maurice Deegan's decision not to allow him advantage in scoring his second-half disallowed goal.
One more year and that’s it, insists O’DriscollBrian O'Driscoll has ruled out extending his career beyond next June.
- LIFESTYLE
Tyranny of the majorityIn the play An Enemy of the People, one man stands for right, says Pádraic Killeen.
Opening a can of wormsThe UN thinks it's a good idea, but what do the Irish think of eating creepy crawlies, wonders Jonathan deBurca Butler.
11-14C
Live Blogs
- We have no upcoming events at the moment. Please check 'Recent Events' tab for past events
Related articles
Today's stories
Eight priests convicted of abuse over 35 years
An audit into child protection measures revealed more than 160 allegations of abuse made against 85 priests were reported to the statutory authorities since 1975.
Ian Elliott, the church watchdog for clerical abuse, defended criticisms that his investigation was not carried out years ago, saying his aim was to ensure children are safe in church settings in the future.
"We can't change history," said Mr Elliott, chief executive of the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC). "But what we can do and what we are hopefully doing through these reports is confirming what the current situation is and that's very important.
"There is a responsibility which is placed upon all of us to the lay faithful in the church, particularly to children, to parents, to ensuring their children are as safe as they can possibly be within church settings."
Frances Fitzgerald, children's minister, confirmed the Health Service Executive will review the audits.
A national audit of each diocese and religious order is also being conducted by health chiefs, she added.
"We need to await the findings of this work before we can say with confidence that children are fully protected and that the lessons of the past have been learned and acted on," said Ms Fitzgerald.
Four more dioceses and at least two religious congregations will be among the next tranche of audits by NBSCCC, due to be completed and published by next summer.
Support group One in Four said many survivors of clerical abuse will be angry and frustrated that the audits do not explore the church's knowledge and handling of abuse in the past.
Maeve Lewis, executive director, also raised concerns over the number of priests against whom allegations have been made who are still in ministry.
"This highlights the dilemma where the gardaí or HSE cannot reach a definitive opinion as to the veracity of the allegation but where there may be substantial concerns," she said.
Anyone affected by the reports is urged to call the following freephone numbers:
* HSE National Counselling Service 1800 303 529
* National Rape Crisis 24-hour helpline 1800 778 888
* Towards Healing 1800 303416 (Republic of Ireland) and 0800 0963315 (Northern Ireland and the UK).