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.