Bishop asks O’Callaghan to stay silent

THE administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne has issued what amounts to a gagging order on its former child protection officer, Monsignor Denis O’Callaghan, as it emerged a local priest is receiving text messages from women who claim he molested them.

The priest, who has faced a string of sexual abuse allegations, has complained to north Cork gardaí that he is receiving unsolicited text messages.

Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dr Dermot Clifford, Apostolic Administrator of Cloyne, has asked Mgr O’Callaghan not to make any further comment on his failure to implement child safety guidelines after he wrote a letter to the Irish Catholic newspaper seeking to explain his actions.