Martin calls on public to support 'good priests'

The Archbishop of Dublin has called on the Irish public to support and encourage the "good priests" that are in the religious orders.

Dr Diarmuid Martin celebrated mass at St. Andrews Church on Westland Row in Dublin city, where President Mary McAleese was in attendance.

Dr Martin reflected on the Murphy Commission Report published this week, which highlighted the widespread cover-up of abuse by priests in the Dublin Archdiocese over three decades.

Dr Martin once again apologised to those who were abused by members of the clergy and told the congregation that no words of apology would ever be sufficient:

"The fact that the abusers were priests acting in the name of Christ constitutes both an offence to God and an affront to the priesthood," he said.

"The many good priests of the Archdiocese of Dublin share my sense of shame and I ask you all to encourage and support them in their ministry at this time."