Cloyne silent on ‘secret trial’ claims

THE Catholic Church has refused to comment on reports that a priest is to be tried by a secret clerical court over allegations of child sex abuse in the diocese of Cloyne.

Director of the Catholic Communications Office Martin Long said he had no information on the report the “trial” would be held later this month, adding “as the issue is also the subject of other investigations we would not be commenting on the matter anyway”.

The priest, referred to as Father B in the Cloyne report conducted by the Church-funded National Board for Safeguarding Children, is scheduled to attend a canonical hearing in Cobh this month. It was reported yesterday that the court is being established under the auspices of Dermot Clifford, the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly.