Ferns inquiry set to pass deadline

AN INQUIRY into clerical sexual abuse in a Wexford diocese will take more than a year, with an interim report most likely to be published in March, its secretary has estimated.

As the Ferns Inquiry winds up for this year, Marian Shanley said its focus will move towards St Peter's College, a seminary and boarding school believed to have been plagued by abuse throughout the 1970s and '80s.

However, evidence from incidents in Monageer, Poulfour and other parishes in Wexford will continue to be heard.

"It's been a big task, but we've not encountered any delays or problems so far. We've been up and running since March and we've never not had a full day's work to do," said Ms Shanley.

"The oral evidence from victims and from other witnesses and people with stories to tell has been ongoing, along with our efforts to sift through loads of documentation.

"In March we will be working a year. I am determined that we will be as close to that one-year deadline as would be humanly possible. Sometimes I feel it's all coming together and then something comes in which throws the whole thing open again.

"It's a bit too close to call. But my money would be on it continuing past March and us publishing an interim report. That interim report will go to the minister," she said.

To date, the inquiry has heard from victims of abuse, mostly those who were abused by the late Fr Sean Fortune or Fr Jim Grennan.

Ms Shanley declined to reveal if there were others or how much information is coming in from each parish area. But she did say that their primary focus in the new year will be moving towards St Peter's.

"We want to hear from anyone with a story to tell from St Peter's be it good or bad. We would be delighted to hear from anyone.

"The reports we've got so far from the boarding school and seminary would tend to suggest that most of the allegations date from the '70s and the '80s. But there could be others. We don't want to be ruling anything in or out."

One of the final witnesses of the inquiry is expected to be Dr Brendan Comiskey, former Bishop of Ferns. He resigned in the wake of a BBC documentary into his and the Church's handling of abuse allegations in the Ferns diocese. He is not due to give evidence until February at the earliest.

The Ferns Inquiry is non-statutory, but when announcing the inquiry Health Minister Micheál Martin ruled that if there was any evidence, hint or even suggestion of non-cooperation by anybody, he would not hesitate in granting the team statutory powers.

The terms also insist that if the probe takes longer than a year, the inquiry team should publish an interim report and it should be forwarded to the minister.

To date, it is believed that more than 40 victims of abuse have given testimony to the inquiry in the form of oral submissions. Many more have submitted written statements. And every time the inquiry team gives an update on its probe more people come forward.

The inquiry team insists it is open to hear from anyone, right up to the final report. Victims or anyone with information which might be helpful is strongly urged to contact the Ferns team in confidence.

Submissions can be made to the inquiry at the First Floor, Frederick House, 19 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2. Phone: [phone].