Three actions for damages brought here against a Catholic Bishop in a representative capacity over the Church’s alleged failure to act to prevent paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth sexually abusing children have been halted by the Court of Appeal.

A Catholic Bishop has urged the High Court to stop him being sued by a man who received £25,000 (€30,341) after settling his Northern Ireland court action over being sexually abused as a child by paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.