Gardaí confirm investigation of clerical sex abuse case

A COMPLAINT of alleged sexual abuse against a priest in the Kerry diocese is at an advanced stage of investigation, gardaí confirmed yesterday.

The formal complaint was made to gardaí last September and a file is expected to be sent to the DPP in the near future.

It is understood the investigation is centred on the alleged abuse of an altar boy in the diocese between 1985 and 1987.

According to the church authorities, the priest left the ministry in the mid-1990s and is not now in active ministry.

Diocesan spokesperson Fr Rory O’Sullivan said it was their policy to co-operate with the civil authorities in such matters and they were co-operating fully in the case. He also gave an assurance that the 1996 bishops’ guidelines on best practice in dealing with child sexual abuse were being fully implemented.

Fr O’Sullivan also said the diocese had a full childcare committee made up of professional lay people and priests with special responsibilities in the area.

The diocese held a conference about the issue of child sexual abuse recently.