Archbishop 'had no intention' of attacking Irish church

The Archbishop of Canterbury tonight said he “had no intention of criticising or attacking” the Catholic Church after an interview in which he appeared to suggest the Church in Ireland had lost all credibility over the child abuse scandal.

A spokeswoman for Dr Rowan Williams confirmed he telephoned Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to express his “deep sorrow and regret for difficulties which may have been created” by his remarks.