Clerical abuse inquiry begins oral hearings soon

AN inquiry into clerical sexual abuse in a Wexford diocese is to begin

The Ferns Inquiry continues to receive a “trickle” of submissions from victims of priests such as the late Fr Sean Fortune, who sexually abused boys in his diocese for years. Oral hearings with victims begin behind closed doors on September 15, inquiry secretary Marian Shanley last night confirmed.

“We are getting a good, steady trickle of written submissions. I would like to think that everyone out there who has suffered abuse in the diocese would come forward to us. I’m not too concerned about the flow of submissions so far. I would be more concerned if we have a huge volume of material and could not cope.