Dioceses pay out €9m over sex abuse

AT LEAST €9 million has been paid out to victims of clerical sex abuse, latest figures from Catholic dioceses show.

Over 240 priests have been accused of abuse in the past 40 years but this figure is likely to be higher as all of the dioceses have not provided information when requested.

The largest payouts to date have been from the archdiocese of Dublin which has revealed compensation and legal costs in recent years of €5.5m. A further 62 civil cases are pending while the Church authorities have already paid out in 43 cases.

The diocese of Ferns had made payments of nearly €2.8m in 17 settlements but this figure does not include any payments made this year as these won’t be made public until after next month’s diocesan AGM.

Most of this money came from the Stewardship Fund, which was set up by the Church to offset such claims, while the diocese itself paid €199,850.

In the Diocese of Ossory, payments of up to €498,000 were made with most of this coming from the Stewardship Fund. One claim was finalised last week on steps of a court but the payout amount is not known. In total, six cases were processed involving four priests. A further three cases are still ongoing and are close to conclusion.

A further €300,000, including solicitors fees, was paid out by the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. These payments were made to four people in cases involving two priests.

The Diocese of Kerry has also revealed that it paid over €260,000 in three settlements of child abuse claims against priests.

Bishop of Kerry Bill Murphy has said he was saddened and hurt by the Ferns report.

“This is a time for honest soul searching. For those who have suffered abuse, words of apology appear very weak and inadequate, and yet these words must be spoken. Our first concern is to reach out to victims and to ensure that what has happened will never happen again,” he said in a statement.

Eleven allegations were made in the Kerry diocese over the last 40 years with one conviction, two dismissals from the priesthood and two laicisations. Three of the priests are no longer in ministry.

Meanwhile, the Diocese of Down and Connor paid out €102,000 in about 10 cases.