Former bishop, who Ferns report found had failed to protect children from clerical sex abuse, has died

Brendan Comiskey resigned in 2002 when it emerged that he failed to protect children from dozens of paedophile priests, including the notorious Fr Sean Fortune. File photo: David Sleator / Irish Times.

The disgraced former Bishop of Ferns, who resigned from his position during a clerical abuse scandal in which he failed to protect children from serial abuse, has died.

Brendan Comiskey, aged 89 and from Monaghan, resigned in 2002 when it emerged that he failed to protect children from dozens of paedophile priests, including the notorious Fr Sean Fortune.

The Ferns report found that the former bishop had "failed to recognise the paramount need to protect children, as a matter of urgency, from potential abusers".

Fr Sean Fortune abused dozens of young boys and took his own life while he was out on bail following his arrest.

When resigning, Brendan Comiskey said: "Fr Fortune committed very grave wrongs and hurt many people.

"Despite the difficulties he presented in management terms, I should have adopted a more informed and more concerted approach to any dealings with him and for this I ask forgiveness.” 

One of Fr Fortune’s victims is human rights campaigner and former One in Four Director Colm O’Gorman.

Writing on X on Monday he said: “The Ferns report published 20 years ago this October, sets out in stark and graphic terms his (Brendan Comiskey) record on clerical child sexual abuse.

“At the diocesan level, he oversaw the cover-up of the rape and abuse of hundreds of children by priests operating under his authority as bishop. In doing so, he implemented the rules and procedures set out in Canon (Church) law as directed by the Vatican at the highest level.

“The cover-up in Ferns was not the result of some unique failing on the part of Brendan Comiskey. It was required and directed by the Vatican."

"Do not scapegoat any one man. Doing so does not serve truth, or justice or love. It is more complicated than that. Instead, if you can, please hold everyone who will struggle with their own personal hurt today in your thoughts and in your heart.”