Churchgoers urged to withhold Sunday donation

The Irish Survivors of Child Abuse group has urged churchgoers to withhold their Sunday donation this weekend in protest at recent revelations about the church's handling of sex abuse allegations.

John Kelly, a spokesman for the group, said: "It's the only weapon that the public, the laity, the parishioners, have. That's all they have to make sure that the hierarchy listen to their views."

Mr Kelly also said today that he believes the Government is willing to establish a national inquiry to investigate clerical child sex abuse throughout Ireland.