Fellow clergy welcome priests’ dismissal

THE Irish Conference of Priests has welcomed the dismissal by the Pope of two members of the clergy convicted of sexual abuse.

The priests, James Doyle and Donal Collins, had worked in the Ferns diocese. Collins was given a four-year sentence in 1998, with three years then suspended, for incidents of sexual abuse against boys which took place in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1990, Doyle was convicted of indecent assault on a teenage boy in 1990 and received a suspended sentence of one year.

Yesterday, Fr John Littleton, president of the Irish Conference of Priests, welcomed the “dismissal of the men from the clerical state”. It was not the first time that the Pope had taken this step. If priests misbehave seriously then serious disciplinary measures should be taken against them and it was a good means to protect children, said Fr Littleton.

Yesterday, Colm O’Gorman, of the One In Four victims’ organisation, welcomed the move by the Pope against the offending priests, but said it was a step which should have been taken far sooner.A spokesman for Bishop of Ferns Dr Eamonn Walsh said: “The diocese confirms that two priests, previously convicted of child sexual abuse, have been dismissed from the clerical state.

“The dismissal of a priest from the clerical state is a supreme decision of the Holy Father.”

The effect of dismissal from the clerical state is a permanent separation from all ministry, including the loss of all rights associated with the priesthood and the loss of authorisation to exercise ministry in the name of the Church.

Dr Walsh made an application to the Vatican to have the two men removed.

A spokesman for the diocese refused to confirm the identities of the men. The diocese said it has supervisory structures in place for priests against whom allegations have been received.

It is believed that Pope John Paul signed the decree last month and the diocese was informed within the last few days, and as the decision was supreme it cannot be appealed against.

The Diocese of Ferns recently confirmed it was considering selling off Church land in Co Wexford to deal with a series of child sexual abuse claims which have almost used up its funds.

Two years ago Bishop Walsh publicly apologised for the sexual abuse of children carried out by a diocese priest, Fr Sean Fortune.

Fr Fortune served as a curate in the parish of Fethard on Sea for part of the 1980s.