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11/02/2008
Cardinal Withdraws Blocking Bid
A leading Dublin cleric's bid to block the supply of files to the Commission investigating clerical sex abuse has been halted.
A lawyer for the former Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond O’Connor, withdrew a legal challenge against the disclosure of documents requested by the Commission of Investigation into Clerical Sex Abuse last December.
Cardinal Connell's successor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, supplied the documents on computer disc to the commission after which the Cardinal brought an injunction preventing investigators from examining them.
The original affidavit for the release of the information listed documents dating from 1975 to 2004 relating to claims of child abuse against a representative sample of 46 priests in the archdiocese.
The commission is now scheduled to report by next September.
Victims group, One in Four, had previously described the Cardinal's attempts to block the disclosure as “cynical”.
Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Advocacy Director for One in Four, said: "It is disturbing that more than five years on from the disclosure of allegations of sexual abuse made against over 100 priests of the Archdiocese of Dublin and commitments from senior church figures to work to establish the truth of these cases that Cardinal Connell has decided to attempt to block the work of this statutory investigation."
She added: "Any reasonable person must surely ask why Cardinal Connell has decided to take this action. What exactly is the Cardinal determined to hide?"
(DM)
A lawyer for the former Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond O’Connor, withdrew a legal challenge against the disclosure of documents requested by the Commission of Investigation into Clerical Sex Abuse last December.
Cardinal Connell's successor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, supplied the documents on computer disc to the commission after which the Cardinal brought an injunction preventing investigators from examining them.
The original affidavit for the release of the information listed documents dating from 1975 to 2004 relating to claims of child abuse against a representative sample of 46 priests in the archdiocese.
The commission is now scheduled to report by next September.
Victims group, One in Four, had previously described the Cardinal's attempts to block the disclosure as “cynical”.
Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Advocacy Director for One in Four, said: "It is disturbing that more than five years on from the disclosure of allegations of sexual abuse made against over 100 priests of the Archdiocese of Dublin and commitments from senior church figures to work to establish the truth of these cases that Cardinal Connell has decided to attempt to block the work of this statutory investigation."
She added: "Any reasonable person must surely ask why Cardinal Connell has decided to take this action. What exactly is the Cardinal determined to hide?"
(DM)
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Ireland WeatherToday:Showers today, occasional north and west of Lough Neagh, but only a few isolated light outbreaks expected for Belfast and county Down where the best of the winter sunshine is expected. West to northwest winds brisk around the coasts. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers focused across northern areas of the Province, with most in the south staying dry, with a frost developing for many here. Northwest winds fresh around the coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
