Archbishop apologises to child abuse victim

An Archbishop tonight apologised to a victim of clerical abuse after a priest pleaded guilty to gross indecency while hearing confession.

Brendan Wrixon, from Newmarket, Co Cork, was given an 18-month suspended sentence after he admitted undressing the boy in the sacristy of a church in the early 1980s.

The 74-year-old is a retired priest of the Diocese of Cloyne, where two scathing investigations revealed its scandal-hit former bishop John Magee took minimal action on accusations against two of his priests.

Archbishop Dermot Clifford said he was deeply sorry that the trust of a young person was betrayed by one of the diocese’s priests.

“I wish to apologise and express to him and his family my sincere regret,” said Archbishop Clifford.

The Circuit Criminal Court in Cork heard the victim alleged about 20 incidents of a sexual nature against the priest in North Cork.

But Wrixon was only sentenced on one charge after admitting he committed an offence of gross indecency between October 1982 and February 1983 The victim revealed it had taken him 20 years to break his silence because of the shame he felt.

He also criticised the Church over claims he had to fight for the truth to be heard over the last five years as it preferred to protect his abuser.

Wrixon served under Bishop Magee, whose resignation was finally accepted from the Pope in March, after the Church’s own watchdog branded his child protection inadequate and dangerous.

A second report found the one-time Vatican aide failed to tell authorities one of his priests was under investigation for abuse.

Archbishop Clifford, of neighbouring Cashel and Emly, took over the day-to-day running of parishes across rural Cork when McGee finally stepped aside.

He stressed Wrixon has not held a diocesan appointment since 2005, is not allowed to wear clerical dress, cannot engage in priestly ministry in public, and is restricted to the celebration of Holy Mass in private in his home without a congregation.

The senior cleric called on anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to come forward to Gardaí and the HSE to report that abuse.

“I also wish to let victims, or anyone who has concerns, know that they may also contact me directly or contact the Diocesan child protection designated officer, Fr John McCarthy,” he added.