Former Bishop of Cloyne John Magee has apologised after the
commission of investigation into the diocese criticised his response to
clerical sexual abuse.
In a report published today, Commission of
Investigation Report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne said the
response of the diocese was “inadequate and inappropriate” and that the
primary responsibility for the failure to implement the agreed child
sexual abuse procedures lies with Dr Magee, who resigned as bishop last
year.
“I again sincerely apologise to all those who were abused by
priests in the Diocese of Cloyne for my failure to ensure that they
were fully supported and responded to in their time of need,” Dr Magee
said in a statement today.
“When the church procedures were
published in 1996, they were intended to be a new beginning for the
church in dealing with allegations and supporting complainants. While I
was fully supportive of the procedures, I now realise that I should have
taken a much firmer role in ensuring their implementation,” he said.
Dr
Magee said he accepts “in its entirety” the commission’s view that the
primary responsibility for the failure to fully implement the church
procedures in the diocese lay with him.
“Given my position of
responsibility, I am particularly saddened when I read the accounts of
the complainants describing the effects of the abuse, knowing that I
contributed to their distress.
“I have met some of the
complainants personally and heard their stories. The people, who were so
terribly abused by priests, found the courage to come forward to talk
to me, or to my delegate, Msgr O’Callaghan who was representing me, and
in many cases, we failed them,” said Dr Magee.
“I am sorry that
this happened and I unreservedly apologise to all those who suffered
additional hurt because of the flawed implementation of the Church
procedures, for which I take full responsibility.”