Priests asked for €1k towards abuse bill

PRIESTS in the diocese of Ferns are being asked to hand over €1,000 each towards the payment of compensation bills to clerical abuse victims.

This is the latest attempt by Bishop of Ferns Dr Denis Brennan to fund the outstanding bill of almost€1 million due to victims of clerical abuse in the diocese. The diocese has already paid €8.1m to victims following up to 60 cases of clerical sex abuse.

Bishop Brennan was criticised last year when he asked Mass-goers to contribute toward the mounting legal bills. The One Child International charity described the request as similar to “asking the abused to pay for costs associated with their own abuse”.