Two years after returning to Galway, Bishop Eamon Casey is still being refused permission by the Church to say Mass in public. The 80-year-old former Bishop of Galway, who now lives in retirement in Shanaglish, was declared to have no case to answer following an investigation by the gardai into abuse allegations made against him by a woman.
The woman, who now lives in Britain, made the allegations in respect of incidents she said happened when Dr Casey was a priest in Limerick over 30 years ago.
Following an extensive investigation by gardai in Limerick and the examination of the completed file on the complaints, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided in August 2006 not to proceed with a prosecution. It emerged that the woman had also made similar unproven allegations against a number of other men.
Bishop Casey had returned to Galway in February of 2006 following his 14-year exile as a result of the controversy surrounding the revelation that he had been in a relationship with US divorcee, Annie Murphy and had fathered a son.
He had moved into a parish house alongside the local church in Shanaglish in south Galway and once the case against him was thrown out, it was fully expected by local people that he would be able to say Mass in public.
But an investigation into the allegations was then announced by the Vatican and, until it has been concluded, Bishop Casey has been confined to saying Mass daily in private at his home.
As he approaches the second anniversary of his return to the Galway diocese, there is growing concern locally at the failure of the Vatican to rule on the allegations. The investigation has now been ongoing for the last 18 months.
Communications Officer for the Galway diocese, Father Sean McHugh, said that a decision on the matter had not been made.
"There is really nothing new to report. We do not have an answer from Rome and the situation remains the same -- no decision has been made", said Fr McHugh.
A number of parishoners in Shanaglish declined to go on the record, but all were supportive of Bishop Casey and believe he should now be allowed to celebrate Mass in public.
"The man has served his time, but he is effectively a prisoner in his own home. Where is the Christianity in all of this?'' asked one parishioner.
He added: "Bishop Casey has settled in and he has fitted in very well with the people here. The feeling is strong enough that he should now be allowed to say Mass in the church.
"There is a lot of disappointment and sadness for him at this stage of his life that he can't say Mass in public, particularly with priests so scarce now."
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