Secret court to rule on priest’s defrocking over sex abuse

A judgment is expected in the coming weeks on whether a Cork priest is to be defrocked by a secret ecclesiastical court because of sex abuse in the Diocese of Cloyne.

Eleven complaints of sexual abuse were made to gardaí about the now retired priest but he has not been convicted of abuse in a criminal court. However a number of people have received financial settlements from the diocese.

The priest, known as Fr Ronat in the Dublin archdiocese report into child abuse in Cloyne, can appeal the decision of the canonical tribunal to Rome.