Diocese considered promoting abuser

DESPITE the complaints mounting against Fr Ronat, the diocese considered promoting him in 1995, and again in 2005 — which the Commission described as “shocking”.

Bishop Magee told the Commission that they sought in 2005 to put him on restrictive ministry and that he would have no further contact with young people. But the Commission found no evidence of this move, believing any such efforts did not take place for another three years, after a third complaint was lodged. Even then Fr Ronat sought to fight the restriction in 1998 claiming that standing down as chairman of the board of management of a local school would be a “a matter for public comment and suspicion”.

The Commission report shows there was little supervision of this restricted ministry, with Fr Ronat acting as master of ceremonies at confirmations in the area. In April 2002, Mgr Denis O’Callaghan wrote to him warning that “it would seem best that you not be present” at a local confirmation.