Mother of clerical sexual abuse victim calls for bishop to resign

THE mother of clerical sex abuse victim Peter McCloskey yesterday called on the Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray, to resign.

Mother-of-three Mary McCloskey said she believed the actions of the Limerick diocese were directly responsible for her son's death. Ms McCloskey held a news conference with her son Joseph, 39, who described the distress suffered by Peter when the mediation process broke down. Peter, 37, died this month two days after the collapse of the mediation process with the diocese.

Four in One support group leader Colm O'Gorman expressed shock and dismay at statements made by Bishop Murray. Mr O'Gorman called for the confidentiality agreement Mr McCloskey signed as part of the mediation process to be waived to allow the truth to emerge. He rejected suggestions that the late Mr McCloskey walked out of the mediation. Mr O'Gorman claimed the bishop was aware Mr McCloskey was travelling to Australia to find out the truth about the priest who abused him and that arrangements were made for him to meet with Australian Church sources.