Out of court settlements for two victims of Fr Fortune

TWO men who were sexually abused as children by one of the country’s most notorious paedophile priests have received out of court settlements within the past two years, the Diocese of Ferns has confirmed.

However, the diocese has denied reports that a settlement was reached in the immediate run-up to the resignation of the former bishop for the diocese, Dr Brendan Comiskey, in April of last year.

One settlement was reached in 2001 and the second was reached within the past three months, diocesan spokesman Fr John Carroll said yesterday. The Church has refused to confirm the amount of either payout.