Church under fire for failing to back priests

The Catholic Church has come under fire on several fronts for not supporting priests against whom false allegations of abuse are made.

Kerry priest Fr Liam O’Brien, who received a High Court apology this week from a woman in her 50s, said that if false allegations had been dealt with properly and promptly, it could have saved him “years of suffering and significant legal costs”.

His solicitor Robert Dore said Fr O’Brien’s civil challenge did “great service” to the body of priests. But Mr Dore said the Killorglin curate, very vulnerable at the time of the allegations, was “deeply, deeply, disappointed” at the lack of support from the Church.

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) also claimed priests remained an easy target, with a considerable number of false allegations being made against individual clergy. Spokesman Fr Tony Flannery said colleagues were delighted Fr O’Brien’s “long nightmare was over”, but added: “For us in the ACP, this case highlights two matters of great concern: the reality of false allegations against priests and the absence, in most cases including this one, of any real support from Church authorities for a priest who finds himself in this terrible situation.”

Mr Dore said Fr O’Brien found himself in a very vulnerable position and sought the support of his Church.

“But no support was made available to him and his bishop, Dr Bill Murphy, made it clear he had no wish to become involved,” said the solicitor who, last year, acted for Fr Kevin Reynolds in a defamation case against RTÉ.

Mr Dore said Fr O’Brien had not sought financial support from the Church but human support.

In a statement from the Kerry diocese last evening, Bishop Murphy welcomed the court apology. “As bishop, I have a pastoral responsibility to the faithful in the diocese of Kerry and, in particular, a duty of care to my priests. In the case of Fr Liam O’Brien, I am delighted that the truth has been established. Fr O’Brien is a priest in good standing.

“I met with Fr Liam O’Brien on a number of occasions and discussed the situation with him. A Care of Priests group was established a number of years ago in the diocese with the role of supporting priests. Building supports for priests will continue to be a priority in the Diocese of Kerry.”

However, Fr O’Brien said he was shocked and surprised when told it was not a diocesan issue. He said the investigation procedures had left a lot to be desired.

He said if the matter, which started four-and-a-half years ago, had been dealt with properly and promptly it could have saved him years of suffering.

He is, meanwhile, believed to be the first priest to bring High Court defamation proceedings arising from untrue allegations.