Majority of sex abuse report to be published

THE High Court has ordered the publication of all but a portion of one chapter of a report into the handling of child sex abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne.

A Commission of Investigation set up by the Minister for Justice has prepared a report into the handling by the Church and by state authorities of allegations of child sexual abuse against clerics operating in the diocese, which covers most of Co Cork, between January 1, 1996 and February 1, 2009.

The report, which consists of 26 chapters and relates to 19 clerics against whom complaints were made, was given to the minister last December 23.

It followed a two-year investigation by Judge Yvonne Murphy, which had also investigated the handling of child sex abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.

The minister last month asked the High Court for directions on what part of the report should be published, as it might prejudice any criminal proceedings being brought against one particular priest.

Yesterday, High Court president Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns cleared the way for the publication of most of the report.

He ruled publication of a portion of chapter nine of the report, relating to one priest, should be delayed until July 15 when the matter is to come back before him for review.

The judge said he was making the ruling so that nothing would be done which would risk prejudicing the priest’s trial, which is due very shortly.

An application to hold yesterday’s hearing in private was made by Alexander Owens SC for the minister, supported by Anthony M Collins SC for the DPP.

Mr Justice Kearns agreed with a suggestion from Mr Collins to adopt a procedure used in a similar application over the publication of the Dublin report, whereby the press and public would be invited back into court after a private hearing.

Following the hearing, the judge said the court did not have the power to order the rewriting of any part of the report but merely to say what parts should be delayed in circumstances where there was a pending trial.

He was not saying that none of chapter nine should be published but only those sections relating to the individual priest to ensure any prosecution does not run the risk of being derailed.

The judge gave liberty to all parties, including the priest, to apply to the court should anything happen that will alter the circumstances.