Justice denied again
A spokesman confirmed the Cabinet had discussed the report in recent days and hoped to set up the inquiry into the handling of Fr Fortune and other paedophile priests in the Ferns Diocese before the end of the year.
The decision will bitterly disappoint victims’ groups who insist the only way the Catholic Church’s concealment of abuse complaints can be properly robed is by garda investigation or statutory inquiry with all the legal powers of a tribunal like those chaired by Justices Flood and Moriarty into planning and political corruption.
Their view is not altered by a statement that was issued by Cardinal Desmond Connell last night in which he apologised to victims who, he said, had suffered a “terrible betrayal” by the Church.
The cardinal also admitted last night he knew about the “inappropriate behaviour” of self-confessed paedophile Fr Noel Reynolds two years before he reassigned him from a parish to a hospital chaplaincy, and three years before he finally removed him from duty.
But while the Garda Press Office said any formal complaint of conspiracy or connivance to conceal a crime would be investigated, a senior garda source last night said there was little likelihood of Cardinal Connell ever facing prosecution.
“You are not going to see the Cardinal in handcuffs,” the garda source said. The press office said to date no complaint had been received about the cardinal.
The latest spate of revelations about the Church, prompted by an RTÉ Prime Time investigation, is causing deep discomfort within the Government.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell is due to discuss the crisis and calls for a criminal investigation with his ministerial colleagues in health and education who are involved in the Laffoy Commission on institutional child abuse.
Mr McDowell requested a copy of the RTÉ broadcast last night and a spokesman said he would view it over the weekend.
The minister said earlier in the day what he had heard so far was “disturbing” and required “reflection”.
The opposition also expressed concern yesterday. Fine Gael justice spokesperson John Deasy said the Church could not be trusted to conduct its own inquiries and added his voice to calls for a Garda investigation.
The Church also came under fire from within yesterday when Fr Arthur O’Neill revealed he had reported concerns about Fr Noel Reynolds when he was parish priest of Rathnew, Co Wicklow, and Fr Reynolds was parish priest in neighbouring Glendalough, but Fr Reynolds was allowed to continue his duties.
Fr Reynolds later admitted that he abused more than 100 children in eight parishes.
Fr O’Neill said there was no excuse for the hierarchy’s failure to act sooner while journalist priest Fr Brian Darcy expressed doubts about the success of the commission set up by the Church under retired judge Gillian Hussey to conduct an audit of all diocesan complaints files.
Fr Darcy said while the Cardinal had “encouraged” all priests to co-operate with the audit, canon law would dictate the level of assistance given and canon law tended to err on the side of secrecy.
Judge Hussey spoke with the members of her commission yesterday in light of similar doubts expressed by victims’ groups but refused to be drawn into the debate.
A spokesman said the commission would continue drawing up terms of reference for their inquiry but added: “It is their view that it would be inappropriate to say anything at the moment.”
