Pope Benedict to sign letter on clerical abuse in Ireland

The Pope is set to sign off on a letter to Irish Catholics today dealing with clerical child abuse.

The letter is expected to be published tomorrow.

It comes following fresh controversy last night surrounding the head of the Catholic church here Cardinal Sean Brady.

Last night, Cardinal Brady denied reports he was involved in the settlement of a case where a woman was allegedly raped by a priest Fr Joseph Quinn in Armagh in 1997 when she was 17.

The settlement was only reached in the last few months; she was paid £45,000 pounds and was forbidden from speaking out about the allegations.

But the Cardinal says he was not involved in the settlement discussions other than to make it clear that he would not be a party to any confidentiality agreement.

Earlier this week it emerged Cardinal Brady was one of the church representatives at meetings with two victims of notorious child abuser Fr Brendan Smyth in 1975, when the victims were asked to sign an oath of secrecy.