Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Cloyne priests to meet over report

PRIESTS in the Cloyne Diocese are to meet again to discuss the fall-out from child clerical sex abuse once the official report is published, it has emerged.

About 80 priests from the diocese met last week to discuss the findings of the Murphy Commission, but the final report has yet to be published due to the redaction of one chapter, which was held back due to a case being brought before the High Court. 

It is understood that the case, based on allegations against a priest from the diocese, may not be heard until the new year.

Details have emerged of last week’s meeting, including how one priest said Bishop John Magee should have publicly addressed its findings sooner. He was overseas when the report came out.

Another conference, held on Saturday in Blarney, Co Cork, by the Cloyne Children’s Safeguarding Committee, outlined the steps being taken in the diocese to ensure children are protected.

Last week’s meeting of priests heard from Sr Helen O’Riordan, outreach officer of the Ferns Diocese to hear how Ferns dealt with findings of clerical child sex abuse there.