Priest: My four-and-a-half years of hell are over
Fr Liam O’Brien, in his early 60s, is a typical footsoldier of the Catholic Church. Like thousands of other priests, he quietly goes about his daily business of ministering to the faithful.
Greying and bespectacled, though hardly looking his years, he shuns the limelight and works without fuss or fanfare.
He declined to pose for photographs, for instance.
Now serving in Killorglin, he is visibly relieved to have received a full apology from an accuser and former parishioner Eileen Culloty, of Currow, Co Kerry, and also to see an end to High Court proceedings to clear his name.
Ms Culloty gave an undertaking this week that neither she nor any members of her family would again make such allegations.
There was never any allegation of sexual abuse and, for that reason, Fr O’Brien was not required to stand aside from ministry while an investigation took place.
“The four-and-a-half-year nightmare has left me in a very fragile state of mind but I’m looking forward to better days,” said Fr O’Brien, a keen GAA follower.
In the wake of the apology, he dropped his action for damages for defamation and is also paying his own costs in the case.
“For me, it was never about compensation. All I wanted was my good name restored. Consequently, no payments have come my way, nor do I want them.”
However, he was “shocked, surprised, and saddened” when told by the Church authorities that the nightmare of events, for him, was not a diocesan issue but a personal problem to be sorted out by himself
All that, despite the fact the allegations related to his life as a priest and the disruption of a funeral Mass in Currow church which he was concelebrating with several other priests in Feb 2011.
Ms Culloty lives near the Currow presbytery.
Fr O’Brien is also unhappy with investigation procedures in the case.
He was, for example, not based in a parish where Ms Culloty had claimed an alleged incident took place.
“But, sadly,” he said, “the diocese and the other state bodies involved, made no effort to check this fact.
“It could have been nipped in the bud and saved me years of suffering and significant legal costs. Also, the fact that I was refused access to my file, which is in the diocesan office, is most disappointing.”
The isolation felt due to the lack of diocesan support, he said, “rocked me to the core” and left him in a lonely and very vulnerable place.
Fr O’Brien emphasised he would be forever grateful for the wonderful support received from family, friends, parishioners, and his solicitor, Robert Dore.
“That support kept my spirits up and saw to it that the truth came to the fore. Their constant inquiries and encouragement, especially over the past two years, is truly appreciated.”
Fr O’Brien said he also had wonderful memories of his time working in the Currow-Currans parish where he made, and still had, great friends.
He said his first comment in 2009 to the Bishop of Kerry, Bill Murphy, was “this person [his accuser] needs help”.
“Today, I repeat the same message to those who are driving and advising her.
“For me, four-and-a-half years of hell is finally over — just relieved that my good name has been restored.”
Meanwhile, Mr Dore praised Fr O’Brien’s courage in taking the case and said people who think priests are soft targets for extr-emely damaging allegations must be prepared to face the consequences. He is acting for a number of priests in similar situations, and with High Court proceedings issued in at least one other case.
Mr Dore, who also represented Fr Kevin Reynolds in his defamation case against RTE arising from a Prime Time Investigates programme, said the lack of support from Church authorities for Fr O’Brien was entirely consistent with his experience in acting for several priests around the country.
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