Cardinal’s position not sustainable: Burton

The minister for Social Protection is the latest in a line of politicians who have questioned Cardinal Seán Brady’s role at the top of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Joan Burton has pointed to how “highly educated” Cardinal Brady was and how he “held a position in a school” and so should have realised the gravity of the allegations made to him by Brendan Boland in the secret inquiry in 1975.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Ms Burton said: “He was a man in his middle 30s at the time who was a doctor of divinity. You could say at that stage that people like that were tremendously naive. But he was highly educated. He also held a position in a school.