Cardinal may face public grilling on abuse scandals

SENIOR clerics such as Cardinal Desmond Connell could be questioned in public about their responses to abuse complaints against priests in their charge under plans to be brought to Cabinet within a month.

The proposals, drawn up by Justice Minister

Michael McDowell, are part of the fast-tracking of public inquiries under an alternative to tribunals which will investigate child sexual abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin.

The latest figures show that the Archdiocese of Dublin has recorded complaints against 60 priests over the last 40 years, one of which has now been established as false. It has paid out €2.5 million in compensation to 38 victims.

In November 2002, following revelations in an RTÉ Primetime documentary, Mr McDowell promised a public inquiry into the handling of abuse complaints by the archdiocese. The new inquiry, which will be called a commission of investigation will have similar powers to tribunals to gather evidence.

Department of Justice officials have been consulting with victims rights groups such as One-in-Four and the Dublin Archdiocese about the terms of reference of this new inquiry.

The proposed terms are to establish facts surrounding at least 59 priests in the diocese who are believed to have abused children. It is also proposed to examine what complaints were made to the Archdiocese about the priests and how they responded.

Much of the inquiry’s work is expected to be carried out behind closed doors, although it will be able to hold some parts in public under the terms of the Commission of Investigation Act 2004.

Parts of the investigation can be heard in public at the request of a witness or if the commission is satisfied that it is desirable in the interest of both the investigation and fair procedures. Some senior clerics, like Cardinal Connell, could be questioned about their responses to abuse claims made against priests in their charge, a Justice Department spokesman confirmed yesterday.

But the Dublin Archdiocese did not want to make any comment on the new inquiry until the terms of reference are formally announced by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

“We will co-operate fully with the terms of reference as they are presented,” the Dublin Archdiocese spokeswoman said.

Victims rights group One-in-Four said they were very pleased that the new proposals are finally going to Government because they have been waiting almost two years for this.