Cleric criticised for blocking child protection procedures

MONSIGNOR Denis O’Callaghan — the senior cleric charged with investigating complaints of child sexual abuse against priests in the Diocese of Cloyne — opposed the Catholic Church’s own child protection guidelines.

The commission strongly criticised Mgr O’Callaghan, who was also parish priest of Mallow, Co Cork, for his disapproval of the requirement to report such allegations to gardaí and the health authorities.

It concluded that he frustrated implementation of the Church’s child protection guidelines in Cloyne and was “primarily responsible” for the diocese’s limited and incomplete compliance with such policy.