Ahern refers abuse report to High Court over conviction fears

CONCERN for the safety of ongoing criminal cases has led Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to refer the report on child abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese to the High Court.

Mr Ahern sent the report to the High Court for its opinion after the Attorney General Paul Gallagher said sections of it may damage the prospects of securing convictions against abusers.

Mr Ahern said he wanted to bring the report into the public domain promptly, but not at the expense of potential convictions.