A DUNDALK man abused by the paedophile priest Brendan Smyth says he still wants a public apology from Cardinal Sean Brady, one of three priests informed about the abuse in 1975.
Brendan Boland last week settled a 14-year court battle with the Archdiocese of Armagh and, despite being offered a private face-to-face meeting with the All-ireland primate, the 50-year-old says he wants the apology to be made in public.
He said: 'I will always hope for Cardinal Brady to make a public apology because to me that would be him coming forward and letting people know that he really cares, that he is really willing to change things in the way the Catholic Church operates.'
In an interview, Mr Boland revealed how he spoke to a trusted priest about the abuse he suffered at Smyth's hands, and how the legal battle with the Church affected his life.
A PUBLIC apology from the man who, 36 years ago, witnessed the statement a 14-year-old boy made when sworn to secrecy over abuse allegations regarding a paedophile cleric who went on to continue his depraved abuse of children - that's what the Dundalk man who successfully sued the Archdiocese of Armagh wants.
Brendan Boland, whose 14-year battle with the Archdiocese came to an undisclosed settlement last week, wants to hear the All-ireland Primate apologise in public for his ordeal.
The 50-year-old Dundalk man has turned down the offer of a faceto-face private meeting with Cardinal Brady in the hope that he might make a public apology - a move the Cardinal's spokesperson has described as being 'counterproductive'.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Cardinal said his offer to meet Mr Boland and make a personal apology still stands.
But Mr Boland said: 'I can't see how it would be counterproductive for them. At least the public would see that they are changing things. Just to give an apology to me is not showing that they are willing to accept responsibility. I will always hope for an apology in public by Cardinal Brady. The end of the (legal) battle seems that it's another chapter closed. I hope to get on with my life and start to rebuild it again. I will always hope that Cardinal Brady will make a public apology and let people know that he really cares and is really willing to change things in the way the Catholic Church operates in these circumstances'.
A spokesperson for the church reiterated the public apology by Cardinal Brady on St. Patrick's Day last year to those who felt let down by his actions.