Missing the point

The ongoing vilification of Cardinal Brady seems to me to miss the point.

Fr Brady, as he then was, was asked to investigate an alleged crime against certain children. He did so and sent the report to his superior, the bishop.

Similarly the gardaí investigate alleged crime. They send a report to the DPP, whose job it is to initiate a prosecution in the courts. The DPP may decide to take no action. There is nothing the gardaí can do about it.

As regards the oath binding the children to silence, I imagine that the purpose was to ensure they did not go about spreading rumours and so alerting the accused, who at that time was considered to be innocent until proven otherwise. Had he been innocent, he would have been able to sue the Church for defamation.

Brian P Ó Cinneide

Durban

South Africa