Criminal inquiry expected for priest crimes

A CRIMINAL investigation into the Catholic Church’s protection of paedophile priests now appears possible following talks between senior gardaí and the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.

Minister McDowell is to meet victims’ representatives tomorrow (Wednesday) before announcing plans for an inquiry.

But following consultation with high-ranking officers yesterday, it appears whatever form the probe will take, it will have garda involvement.

A statement issued by Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne last night said the Garda were aware of the widespread concern in respect of clerical abuse and had been in consultation with Minister McDowell.

The statement continued: “We are researching the various issues involved and whatever appropriate response or responses are decided upon will be reported in due course.”

A clearer picture of the Government’s intentions will emerge after the weekly Cabinet meeting today and Minster McDowell's meeting tomorrow with Colm O'Gorman of the One In Four victims campaign group.

The moves toward setting up a full-scale inquiry came as Cardinal Desmond Connell and the Church hierarchy continued to come under pressure for their handling of the child abuse scandal.

Dr Willie Walsh, Bishop of Killaloe, said all offenders should face the law. He admitted a culture of secrecy in the Church left offenders free to claim more victims.

He also said the priests of the Dublin Archdiocese should have been fully informed that Fr Tony Walsh had been defrocked for persistent paedophilia. Walsh continued to act as a priest for three years afterward and was only stopped by the parents of a child he assaulted at the funeral of the youngster’s grandfather.

The fresh wave of disturbing revelations has resulted in a 50% increase in calls to the Faoiseamh counselling service funded by seven of the country's biggest dioceses, including Dublin.

Coordinator Dorrie Mitchell said many of the contacts were from first-time callers, showing the scale of abuse is still beyond reckoning.

Meanwhile the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire announced it had set up a special information telephone line to be staffed by experienced professionals for anyone concerned about revelations that a paedophile priest worked at the centre.

However, the NRH also sought to reassure the families of patients who attended the hospital during the chaplaincy of Fr Noel Reynolds between July 1997 and June 1998. “Based on information available to the hospital authorities at the present time, the hospital is satisfied that there should be no issues of concern to our patients,” said a spokeswoman.