Victims to call for independent sex abuse inquiry

Victims of clerical abuse in the diocese of Ferns will call for an independent state inquiry into the matter later today.

Victims of clerical abuse in the diocese of Ferns will call for an independent state inquiry into the matter today.

One in Four, a charity representing the victims, will also issue a statement on the resignation of Bishop Brendan Comisky and the response of the Catholic hierarchy to instances of clerical abuse.

Colm O’Gorman, the director of One in Four, was a victim of Fr Sean Fortune in Co Wexford.

He said the Catholic Church has not appropriately addressed the issue of sex abuse and added that a public inquiry is needed to force the church to answer important questions.

Both the Labour Party and Fine Gael have already called on the Government to establish such an inquiry.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister John O’Donoghue is to meet Health Minister Micheal Martin and Attorney General Michael McDowell today to discuss the garda handling of the Fr Sean Fortune case.

Reports this morning also claim that concern has been raised about the manner in which the Gardai handled the case of Fr Jim Grennan, who abused 11 schoolgirls in the 1980s.

Labour’s Brendan Howlin said the disappearance of a garda file relating to the case should be investigated fully. The file disappeared in 1994, following Fr Grennan’s death.