Sex abuse witnesses compelled to testify
Former Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey, is among dozens of Church and State figures who will give evidence to the long-awaited non-statutory probe, due to get underway today.
According to the terms of reference, if there is a suggestion that a witness is not co-operating fully, then the minister will confer statutory powers on the inquiry.
Hearings, which will take place at the inquiry hub on Dublin's Frederick Street, will be held in private and are expected to last no longer than one year.
The probe centres on allegations of sexual abuse made against priests in the Diocese of Ferns and it will examine how the Church and State bodies reacted when complaints were made.
The terms of reference include that the inquiry should examine the behaviour of priests who served in Ferns at one time but who may also have been stationed elsewhere.
Among the priests whose behaviour will be examined is the late Fr Sean Fortune, who abused a number of young boys while stationed in parishes in Wexford. Complaints made by alleged victims of Fr Fortune while he served in Belfast and Dundalk will also be looked into.
The manner in which complaints of sexual assault against Fr Jim Grennan, who sexually assaulted a group of girls in the parish church in Monageer, Co Wexford will come under scrutiny. So too will complaints made against Fr Michael Ledwith.
The inquiry team will be headed by retired High Court and Supreme Court judge, Justice Frank Murphy. The three-member team will also include a child protection psychology expert and a management expert. The names of these two individuals will be confirmed today.
The probe was promised almost exactly a year ago following the fury aroused by the BBC's Suing the Pope documentary.
Last night, Colm O'Gorman, a victim of Fr Fortune, said he looked forward to the Government announcement of the inquiry today.
"It is almost exactly a year since we got the commitment from the minister. My greatest concern now is the co-operation promised by the Church and State will be forthcoming.
"This inquiry is not toothless. It has a gun in its pocket and it will use it if necessary. This inquiry is not just limited to how diocesan sources handled allegations or rumours of clerical sexual abuse.
"The buck does not stop either with the Bishop of Ferns. The Papal Nuncio and at least one cardinal also knew what was going on," he said.
It is expected that testimony from up to 100 victims will be heard by the inquiry. At least 40 have already come forward. Support organisation OneinFour, headed by Colm O'Gorman, said it is available to help anyone who has not yet come forward.
One in Four can be contacted on 01 6624070.
The inquiry is non-statutory and will focus on priests attached in any way to the Diocese of Ferns in County Wexford.
If the inquiry lasts longer than one year, it will then publish an interim report.
It will examine in particular what the Former Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey, the papal nuncio and at least one cardinal did when allegations of abuse by Fr Sean Fortune were brought to their attention.
Any criminal proceedings will be a matter for the DPP and the gardaí.
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