Derry sees spate of sexual abuse allegations against priests

CHILD sex abuse allegations have been made against 26 priests who worked in Derry, it was revealed last night.

One of the latest involves a priest who has stood down while a police inquiry is carried out, Catholic Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty confirmed.

The complaints, which span a 50-year period, were disclosed in a statement following the shocking levels of clerical abuse uncovered in Ferns. The damning dossier confirmed more than 100 allegations involving priests in Co Wexford over 40 years.

Dr Hegarty, who is putting in place a new child protection policy, described the findings of the Judge Murphy inquiry into the Ferns Diocese as devastating.

"These innocent people have been wounded so badly by those they should have been able to trust. This report is a catalogue of criminal abuse and of sacred trust betrayed."

In an attempt to allay any fears within his own diocese of Derry, the bishop stressed every allegation made against serving priests has been investigated with necessary procedures followed.

"Our paramount concern is for the safety and welfare of children," he said. "An independent child care consultant has recently carried out a review of all cases in this diocese, and the diocese will have ongoing external review."

Dr Hegarty issued an account of the current situation of all priests who faced complaints. It included:

Many of the complaints are historic, going back as far as the 1950s

Nine of the priests with allegations against them are now deceased

Four priests had allegations made against them which were subsequently withdrawn

Another allegation involved mistaken identity of the priest accused. In three instances, the complainants would not identify the alleged offender

In two cases, allegations, although initially presented as child sexual abuse, were determined not to be abuse

One priest, in ministry, stood down and was professionally assessed as giving no evidence of the possibility of risk

Another priest made a personal settlement with a complainant, without admission of liability, and is not in active ministry

One priest is alleged to have abused outside Ireland, and is no longer in active ministry in the diocese

An investigation into a recent complaint is ongoing

Two priests have been prosecuted one was acquitted and one pleaded guilty.

Dr Hegarty, who has met abuse victims, pledged to continue to fully cooperate with police investigations and to help ensure the horror of Ferns never happens again.