Once infamous diocese now a model of best practice

THE diocese made infamous by the crimes of paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth is now considered a “model of best practice” for child protection.

Kilmore Diocese, where the Norbertine Order of which Smyth was a member is based, was given a clean bill of health in the review which noted that proper procedures had been followed in all seven cases in which allegations were made against priests since 1975.

Three of those priests were now deceased, one was convicted and in prison, one was in ministry and the remainder were out of the priesthood or retired. One priest who was the subject of an allegation also resided in the diocese but was not a priest of the diocese and so did not come under the terms of the review.