The latest call came yesterday after standing orders were suspended at a meeting of Cork County Council.

“This case is of extreme concern to me and I am calling on Bishop John Magee to step aside,” said Mallow-based councillor Jerry Mullally.

The leader of Fine Gael on the council, Cllr Michael Hegarty, said councillors should first sympathise with the victims of clerical abuse.

Mr Hegarty said it might be wise for councillors to await the outcome of a review of the HSE’s handling of the case by Emily Logan, Ombudsman for Children, before reaching any firm conclusions.

“But I think maybe Bishop Magee should consider his position,” he said.

Mr Hegarty said the fact that Minister for Children Barry Andrews had not read the abuse report “left a lot to be desired”.

Labour councillor John Mulvihill, who lives near Bishop Magee’s residence in Cobh, was also critical of Mr Andrews. Regarding Bishop Magee’s handling of the issue, Mr Mulvihill said he wasn’t calling for anybody’s head at this stage.

“My first concern is the protection of children. But when the inquiry is over and if heads have to roll, then so be it,” he said.

He called on his colleagues in the meantime to exercise restraint.

Cllr Tomas Ryan (FG) agreed, saying that the ombudsman’s inquiry should be concluded before anything further is said.

Cllr Noel Collins (Ind) said: “I’m a firm believer that when a crisis arises on your own doorstep you don’t run away. I urge Bishop Magee to learn from mistakes and to deal with the authorities looking into this.”