Dublin clerical child abuse report referred to High Court

THE publication of a shocking report into clerical child abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin is facing further delays after the report was again referred to the High Court.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern on the advice of the Attorney General, Paul Gallagher, has sought further clarification about how much of the lengthy report can be published amid fears it could jeopardise a possible criminal prosecution that might arise from an ongoing Garda investigation.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan yesterday adjourned the case until October 29 following a 30-minute hearing behind closed doors.

The judge said an application had been made with respect to an issue that had not been raised during three previous hearings about publication of the report earlier this month.

They had also been held in response to concerns by Mr Ahern that publication of the full report could jeopardise the forthcoming criminal trials of several priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children.

Last week, Mr Justice Gilligan ruled that the entire 700-page report could be published with the exception of one chapter and 21 related references to one individual.

It is understood the person referred to is a former priest who is due to face a criminal trial next April.

The report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation examined how 19 senior bishops handled allegations of abuse made against a representative sample of 46 priests between 1975 and 2004.

The commission which is chaired by Circuit Court judge Yvonne Murphy was established in March 2006.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has already warned that the contents of the report will be shocking.

Minister for Children Barry Andrews said yesterday that the decision to refer the report back to the High Court was the right thing to do.

“Clearly there is nothing insidious about it. It’s simply ensuring the publication isn’t going to jeopardise the prosecution of any particular individual and I don’t think anyone would dispute that as a correct motive,” said Mr Andrews.

Meanwhile, the editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper has advised Catholic priests not to lose perspective when the report crashes down on them “like a tsunami”.

Welcoming the forthcoming publication of the report, Garry O’Sullivan said it would be a good day for both victims and the Church.

Mr O’Sullivan urged priests to keep perspective on the “corporate shame”. but to also realise that they themselves were not in question. “I have no doubt that if priests keep a clear perspective on the Dublin report, they will realise very quickly that they have the understanding and support of their parishes and communities, and that we, as priests and laity, we as Church are all in this together, but cannot allow ourselves be overwhelmed or burdened down by the blame and shame that rightly belongs to the perpetrators.”