THE diocesan response to allegations of child abuse in Ferns, although varied over a span of 40 years, comes in for severe and damning criticism as successive bishops failed to protect vulnerable children from priests they knew to be abusers.

The Bishop of Ferns has issued an unreserved apology to the victims of clerical sex abuse in the diocese.

Some 21 Catholic priests savagely sexually assaulted young boys and girls in parishes across Co Wexford in Ireland during the past 40 years, a scathing report into clerical abuse revealed today.

The diocese of Ferns is expected to emerge today as one of the worst in the world for clerical child abuse.

The report on alleged child sex abuse in the Diocese of Ferns will be presented to the Cabinet later today by Minister Brian Lenihan.

TONIGHT: SFC: St. Nicks v O'Donovan Rossa at Newcestown, 7.15 p.m. BOTH sides are without key players which should make it wide open.

CLERICAL sexual abuse victim Colm O’Gorman was finally vindicated yesterday.