Gardaí to probe mishandling of abuse complaints

The Garda Commissioner has revealed tonight that officers are examining a sickening report which found paedophile priests were shielded by peers and officials to protect the Catholic Church.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said one of the country’s top detectives will scrutinise the mishandling of complaints and investigations by both Church and State authorities, including gardaí.

A three-year inquiry of the Dublin Archdiocese found paedophile priests got away with decades of horrific child sex abuse because the Catholic hierarchy, obsessed with secrecy, was granted police immunity.

Mr Murphy revealed that Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahoney will report back on failings which amounted to criminal behaviour.

“I will then consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions as to what issues arise in the context of criminal liability,” said Mr Murphy.

The shocking report, which spanned 30 years, found that senior officers, including a Commissioner, regarded priests as outside their remit.

It revealed connivance of gardai with the Church which effectively stifled one complaint and allowed a priest to leave the country without conviction.

Survivors of child abuse have called for criminal proceedings to be taken against anyone who protected priests who abused a child, including 83-year-old Cardinal Desmond Connell.

“The Commission has identified failings on the part of both Church and State authorities in their response to complaints of child sexual abuse,” continued Mr Murphy.

“The focus of this examination will be to establish whether those failings amounted to criminal behaviour.

“I want to appeal again to individuals who experienced child sexual abuse or who have information about the commission of criminal offences in the context of the report to contact An Garda Siochana.”

A dedicated garda telephone line has been set up on 01 666 3066.

Mr Murphy said Garda investigations can never be influenced by the profession or background of a suspect and must concentrate on dealing sensitively with victims, applying the best investigative methods and placing a case before the courts to secure a just outcome.

He also defended the current force, stating a substantial amount of work had been undertaken at the Garda’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit in relation to cleric abuse since 2002.

“The Commission itself acknowledged that this investigation was an effective, co-ordinated and comprehensive inquiry,” he said.

“The investigation has resulted in the submission of a number of files to the Director of Public Prosecutions and, following his direction, people have appeared before the courts charged with serious offences. Some of those cases are still ongoing.

“The unit’s investigations focused in the main on individual complaints of child sexual abuse and this important work will continue.”