Three religious orders, including notorious paedophile Fr Brendan Smyth’s Norbertines, have shown no “real change from their historical behaviour” in terms of safeguarding children.

The emergence five years ago that senior clerics in the Catholic Church were fully aware of the abuse by Brendan Smyth in 1975 means three of his victims should get a new hearing of their damages claims, the Supreme Court has been urged.

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, facing calls to resign over revelations that he did not report complaints against a paedophile priest to police, said today that he will only step down if told to by the Pope.