Political leaders increase pressure on Brady

The Government has ratcheted up the pressure on an increasingly isolated Cardinal Seán Brady to resign over his failure to tell authorities about the abuse of five children by paedophile priest Brendan Smyth.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said it was his personal view that the cardinal should not hold his position, while Education Minister Ruairi Quinn questioned whether he should remain as the patron of 92% of primary schools in the country.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said his position as head of Government, and the separation of state and church affairs, meant he was not in a position to urge Cardinal Brady to resign. He repeated earlier comments when he said the Primate of All Ireland should “reflect” on the findings of a BBC documentary about a Church inquiry into child abuse.