Bishop Walsh of the Diocese of Killaloe has confirmed in an interview with local newspaper, TheClare People, that he is to meet with convicted abuser, Fr Con Desmond later this week, and will continue to offer as much support as possible to him.‘I am certainly offering him support. The Diocese has a responsibility and I will be fulfilling that responsibility.’
A priest of the Diocese has been appointed to support Fr Desmond, with a support team to be also set up, which Bishop Walsh has insisted is in line with Diocesan policy.
The Bishop also stated that the revelations of last week were ‘upsetting’, and further admitted he felt that the initial conversation he had with Fr Desmond back in 1995 did raise concerns for him, but as no allegations had come to his attention, there was nothing he could have done back then.
‘I wasn’t without some worries in relation to it. I got no information about instances of sexual abuse. I certainly had a worry that there might have been (some concern). That is why I sent him there (Grenada Institute). The institute not only treats offenders but also does risk assessment.’
He further stated that when the allegations were brought to his attention in 2002, he went to the parish of Knockerra, where only the year before in 2001, he had appointed Fr Desmond as parish priest, and asked for those with any allegations or concerns to come forward to him.
This he again done in recent times after the court in Waterford had handed down the sentence in relation to Fr Desmond, but to date, no-one has yet come forward.
The Bishop explained, ’When someone comes to me, I always treat it as confidential. There is one exception - that is child sexual abuse. I cannot keep that as confidential.’
Meanwhile, in the parishes in which Fr Desmond served - Kilmaley and Knockerra, there was no real reaction visible from the parishioners, but this was not how it originally was when the allegations first broke in 2002.
The initial shock was palpable but this turned to sympathy in recent times, as no-one wished to see Fr Desmond jailed and all agreed that he was much and well respected as a priest in the Diocese of Killaloe at all times whilst he was in ministry. ‘It was a big surprise when the word first came out three or four years ago.
However, people now want to move on and forget about it.’
Only time will tell if it is possible for this to be allowed happen, especially in the light of the fact that another allegation of sexual impropriety by another student of the De La Salle school in Waterford where the first allegation took place has now come to light……
(Acknowledgement: The Clare People)