Archbishop apologises after abuse settlement

Archbishop of Dublin Cardinal Desmond Connell, issued a public apology today to a man who suffered abuse in the Dublin diocese nearly 18 years ago.

This follows a High Court settlement approved today in a case of sex abuse by a Roman Catholic priest.

The sum involved in the agreed compensation settlement was not formally disclosed, but is believed to amount to more than €300,000.

The victim, Mervyn Rundle, was nine years old when he was abused by Father Thomas Naughton, who was then serving in the Donnycarney district of Dublin, in a church where Mr Rundle was an altar boy.

Father Naughton was jailed for three years for the offence in 1998.

At his trial, Fr Naughton was said to have sexually abused children throughout the 1980s in three Dublin parishes.

Complaints were regularly made to the diocesan authorities in Dublin, but no action was taken.

Today, in a statement issued as part of the agreed settlement to Mr Rundle, Dr Connell said he profoundly regretted the injury caused by Father Naughton and personally apologised to Mr Rundle and his family.

The top churchman acknowledged that Mr Rundle was grievously injured by the abuse which had devastating consequences for him, and also caused distress to his family.

He noted that before the abuse occurred, concerns had emerged about the conduct of Fr Naughton, which, had they been “more successfully pursued,” could have resulted in the priest being withdrawn from parochial duties.

The Cardinal said he hoped the church would learn from the Rundle case.