Priest prevented prosecution after sex abuse claims

A PARISH priest decided that no prosecution should be taken against a painter who had allegedly been sexually abusing nine young girls at an industrial school.

This is because it would damage the convent and have an effect on the students, the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse heard yesterday.

The priest, named as Fr O’Keeffe, made the suggestion at a meeting with a Dr Anna McCabe, a senior Department of Education inspector in 1954. Following his advice, she agreed no prosecution should be taken.