Politicians criticised over lack of action

POLITICIANS in Wexford have been criticised for failing to voice support for victims of cleric abuse in the diocese of Ferns during a decade of public disquiet about the controversy.

Billy Moroney, a Wexford man, who attempted to highlight allegations of sexual abuse by paedophile priest Fr Seán Fortune, said yesterday that he had been “very disappointed” with local TDs’ reaction to the controversy for many years.

Speaking on RTÉ radio, Mr Moroney said public representatives in Co Wexford had failed to react to concern voiced among local communities about several priests in the region.

“They kept their heads down. They didn’t raise a whimper to have an inquiry established,” said Mr Moroney.

One in Four founder and cleric sex abuse victim Colm O’Gorman has previously expressed dismay that local representatives remained silent.

Many local people were angered when six Wexford TDs and senators were quoted in a public statement in 1995 voicing support for Bishop Brendan Comiskey when he took a leave of absence from the diocese.

However, Labour TD Brendan Howlin yesterday defended the position of local representatives, claiming they were constrained by how much they could react to rumour and innuendo.

“I was never given any evidence that I could bring to anyone. Nobody ever made a direct accusation to me about a priest,” said Mr Howlin.

He pointed out that as Minister for Health he had brought in a framework of child protection measures in the aftermath of the Kilkenny incest case.

Another Wexford TD, who did not wish to be identified, claimed the recent controversy surrounding newspaper reports of the death of Liam Lawlor highlighted how people needed to be sure of their facts before publicising issues which involved accusations against others.