Cloyne abuse reports - A shadow over week’s celebrations

THE Minister for Children Barry Andrews has, after five months of incomprehensible and damaging silence, found it appropriate to question the position of the Bishop of Cloyne, the Most Rev John Magee, over how allegations of child abuse were handled in his diocese.

The minister’s 11th-hour intervention, even as fresh abuse claims are made and several more are anticipated, is too little and far, far too late. It smacks of jumping on a bandwagon that has gathered considerable momentum. It is not a timely, principled or admirable stand to protect children.

It is difficult to believe that Mr Andrews would have broken his silence if he, Bishop Magee and the Catholic hierarchy were not fighting a rearguard action to negotiate a strengthening storm over the scandal.