Accord denies confidentiality dispute with archbishop

ACCORD, the Catholic marriage advisory and counselling agency, yesterday denied reports it was embroiled in a dispute over files wanted for the investigation into clerical child sex abuse in the Dublin Diocese.

A story in the Irish Catholic newspaper said the agency was forced to defy an order from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to hand over files in its possession for fear of breaching confidentiality agreements with clients.

The Dublin Diocese said last night, however, that the story was “seriously inaccurate” and there was concern that existing or prospective clients of Accord could be put off availing of the agency’s services as a result.