By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
Friday, 15th April 2011
THE Vatican inquiry team sent to Ireland by Pope Benedict XVI as part of church sex abuse investigations is set to report to the pontiff by Easter.
Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, said the “apostolic visitation” has completed its work.
The investigation, which began in March 2010, has already met with abuse victims and bishops.
The Vatican group’s purpose is to examine whether the processes in place to deal with abuse are effective.
The imminent conclusion of the investigation emerged as it was revealed 50 new alleged clerical sex abuse victims have come forward to make allegations against nine more Dublin archdiocese priests since the 2009 Murphy report.
Figures released by the archdiocese have confirmed that since November 2009 almost a dozen previously unknown potential abusers have been implicated in the scandal.
Before the publication of the report — which gave shocking details of long-standing abuse and attempted cover-ups in Dublin by some clergymen — 520 people had made formal complaints of abuse by 84 priests since 1941.
However, in the 18 months since the publication, a further 50 people have come forward alleging abuse — a figure which implicates nine more priests.
In addition, “suspicions” have been raised over two more priests not currently the subject of complaints, raising the overall figure to 11.
There has been no change in the number of Dublin-based priests or those from other dioceses to hold an appointment in the capital who are the subject of complaints (60); those from other dioceses who performed some work in Dublin (9) since the Murphy report.
A total of 10 Dublin-based priests or ex-priests have been convicted or have cases pending in the criminal courts and two non-diocesan priests who served in Dublin have also been convicted in relation to sex abuse.
In addition, 172 civil actions have been taken by alleged victims against 44 of the archdiocese’s priests.
A total of 117 have been concluded, 55 are ongoing, resulting in €9.3 million worth of settlements and €4.2m in legal costs for those involved.
The figures emerged as the archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, and the archdiocese’s child safeguarding and protection office (CSPS) launched the diocesan policy for child safeguarding and protecting children.
Dr Martin said the policy will bring together a series of long-established practices and procedures in the archdiocese to ensure the safety of children.
While the Dublin archdiocese has recently been proactive in this task, other dioceses in the rest of the country have been criticised by some alleged victims for failing to pass on complaints.
Abuse survivor Andrew Madden said while he welcomed the Dublin archdiocese’s commitment to preventing further abuse, “nothing short of this standard is acceptable from any diocese in the country”.
FOCionnaith.direct@examiner.ie
The Irish Examiner
Here’s a letter in sent to the Examiner, and all other Irish Media in response to this article.
A chara,
“Diarmuid Martin said the apostolic visitation appointed to help the catholic church in the wake of the clerical sex abuse crisis, has completed its work.”
Again, the focus is on helping the Church, not the Survivors…. Helping the Church to do what?
‘Manage the crisis’. As any Survivor will tell anyone who cares to listen, or whose heart is strong enough to feel or sense what it is like to be a Survivor of childhood sexual abuse or brutality perpetrated by Clergy in Institutions of ‘care’, the focus on managment of ‘the crisis’ wounds, and re-wounds all Survivors, because it is fundamentally dishonest and not about the Christian values of compassion, healing and nurturance, but about the non-christian values of Power and Status.
That anyone, be they clerics or Government Officials, can stand by and not act rapidly in the best interests of the Survivors, is a profound indictment of our Society.
The sad truth is that if it were not for the voices of Survivors, this would remain a secret even still.
Where are the good people of Ireland? Where are the good Christians?
Kindest regards
Corneilius
Paddy,
This question may be irrelevent but here it is; If there is a trust fund, as the religious orders keep talking about paying into, How would I be reimbursed for all my medical bills and my wife’s which we have been paying out of our pockets over the years, it comes to thousands ?. I am 76 this August, so of course I am worried about my buriel expences, which will be quite expensive for my family, I could option for creamation which is cheaper but the Catholic Church does not like that sort of exit, so will they pay for my funeral and buriel ?. I would rather be compensated with the money owed and pay my own way out of this world. Maybe someone could enlighten us old farts as to that fact.
suffering cabin fever at present snowed in 4 feet of the stuff -C after leaving 106f in Yuma.
All the very best.
Seanie.