Abuse victims fear accused will flee country

FEARS were growing among victims yesterday that the former principal of a Co Cork boarding school could leave the country permanently after a deluge of victims spoke out about his alleged reign of terror.

Senator Mark Daly used Seanad privilege last week to name Fr Donncha Mac Cárthaigh as having openly flouted restrictions on his ministry — following allegations of child sexual abuse — by travelling to Rome and Fatima in the past year. It has since emerged that he regularly travels to the United States.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have refused to confirm the number of new sexual and physical abuse complaints that have been made in the past week against Fr Donncha Mac Cárthaigh and Fr Tadgh Daly who were principal and dean at Coláiste an Chroí Naofa in Carrignavar. However, it is understood a number have been made. A number of alleged abuse victims are also planning to meet up in Dublin later this month to discuss how they should be best process civil and criminal complaints.