Gardaí take statement from Casey sex abuse accuser
The statement was taken recently and is being evaluated by detectives at Henry Street garda station.
It is believed investigating gardaí will seek a meeting with Dr Casey to interview him about the allegation in the statement.
The woman is understood to have lived in Limerick for many years and the incident is alleged to have happened decades ago. She is believed to have made her allegation in November.
Her family were well known to Dr Casey.
Dr Casey, 79, stood aside from active ministry in a rural parish in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton when the allegation was brought to his attention last December.
His bishop in England referred the matter to the Diocese of Limerick where the offence is alleged to have occurred.
The diocese of Limerick in turn informed Limerick gardaí of the allegation.
Dr Casey has from the outset insisted he is innocent of any wrongdoing in relation to the woman and declared his determination to clear his name.
Some sources who know the woman claim she has in the past made an unsubstantiated allegation.
A garda source in Limerick said yesterday they have had no contact with Dr Casey, but they anticipated seeking a meeting with him “sooner rather than later” in relation to the statement they now have from the woman.
The allegation by the woman has halted Dr Casey’s planned return to retire in Co Galway.
He has stated that he has no plans to return until the allegation has been investigated.
However, it now seems likely that a file will be prepared for the DPP based on the statement of the woman and any statement Dr Casey may make in response to the allegation.
