Diocese criticised for refusing to give victim apology

A LEADING advocacy group for sex abuse victims said it was deeply disappointed by the refusal of Clogher Diocese to apologise to a victim it paid compensation to just five months ago.

Director of One in Four, Maeve Lewis, also pointed out that the diocese had broken several of the Church’s child protection guidelines by allowing the accused priest, who had been taken out of active ministry, to officiate at First Communion ceremonies in Co Monaghan and to remain sitting on the board of management of the local school. They also failed the victim and breached further church guidelines by never offering the victim counselling or pastoral care.

The priest had been accused of sexually abusing the girl for 10 years from when she was aged between eight and 18 years.