Cardinal apologises but says he will not resign

Cardinal Seán Brady insisted yesterday he had no intentions of stepping down, although he issued a public apology to Brendan Boland, a survivor of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth.

The apology was delivered as the primate came off Lough Derg in Co Donegal following a penitential pilgrimage in advance of next month’s Eucharistic Congress.

Despite continuing calls for his resignation, the cardinal said there had also been “many, many, calls from people” who wanted him to remain in office.