Committee was appointed by Magee

THE advisory committee which tried to prevent the publication of a damning report into alleged child sex abuse in the diocese of Cloyne was appointed by, and is answerable to, Bishop of Cloyne John Magee.

The Interdiocesan Case Management Advisory Committee, appointed by Bishop Magee and the Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray, wrote a letter threatening legal action against the National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC), whose report found that Dr Magee had grossly mishandled alleged abuse in his diocese.

A spokesman for Bishop Magee last night said the decision to write the letter, which suggested parts of the NBSC’s report were not true, was taken by the advisory committee itself.