Diocese proclaims full support to under-fire bishop

BISHOP of Limerick Donal Murray, who was harshly criticised in a damning report on the Church’s mishandling of clerical child sex abuse, was last night given the full backing of priests and Mass-goers in his diocese.

The highly influential pastoral leaders issued a statement which was also supported by the three most senior priests in the diocese next to the bishop.

The statement said: “We believe it would be a retrograde step for the continuing development of Safeguarding Children in our diocese and society, for our bishop to resign.”