Leading cleric calls for rethink on removal of priests accused of abuse

THE leader of Ireland's Catholic priests yesterday urged Church authorities to rethink suspensions of clerics under investigation for sexual misconduct.

Fr John Littleton, president of the National Conference of Priests of Ireland, suggested some priests should be allowed to stay to do parish work until natural justice took its course.

Earlier yesterday, Fr Tony Flannery, the co-ordinator of Galway's Novena had called for an end to the sidelining of accused priests who posed no risk to children. Said Fr Littleton: "In backing Tony Flannery's call, I am not supporting it entirely in the sense that every case must be treated individually. But, certainly, it seems that in some cases it would seem quite inappropriate that priests are removed from the ministry."