Friday, December 02, 2011

‘Report is nothing but a whitewash’

ABUSE victims have described the audit in Raphoe as a whitewash that was never going to uncover any new revelations. 

Survivor John O’Donnell said the numbers of priests and victims uncovered by the audit was completely misleading.

"It’s nothing but a whitewash and I do not believe that Bishop Boyce was sincere. I know for a fact that there were many, many more victims of priests across Raphoe.

"How can they put a proper figure on it? What about people who were abused who have since gone on to commit suicide. Or what about those in metal homes or have become alcoholics or drug addicts?

"How can they have a proper audit when this is undoubtedly the case? They didn’t even bother to go and interview the survivors. How can this be a proper report," he said.

Another victim, Martin Gallagher from Gorthork, said nothing but a full state investigation will satisfy those whose lives were ruined.

"We’ve been let down again — the only thing that can be done now is a full state investigation into Raphoe. It took me 10 minutes to read it. There was nothing in it — it was a joke. There was no voice for the victim.

"I was particularly angry at what Bishop Boyce said about survivors. What about those who didn’t survive? There are so many people in graveyards in Donegal who I believe took their own lives as a result of attacks by paedophile priests," he said.

Bishop Boyce said the vast majority of both priests and lay people in the Raphoe Diocese who had been asked to take part in the vetting programme had done so.

"There is about 20 who have not and that is because there is simply a back-log.

"Anybody who does not agree to take part in this vetting programme will be asked to stand aside," he said.

Bishop Boyce said he is now inviting all survivors of clerical child sex abuse to continue to come to him for guidance.

"The sexual abuse of a young person by a member of the clergy in whom that child placed unhesitating trust inflicts a terrible wound in the lives of victims, communities and in the Church.

"It is repugnant and constitutes a stumbling block to a life of faith in those who suffer. It gives scandal to the whole of society and it is rightly regarded as repulsive.

"All I can say again is that I am deeply, deeply sorry," he said.