SEVERAL fresh allegations of child abuse by priests in the diocese of Cloyne have been made in the past month, the Irish Independent has learned.Victim support group One in Four last night confirmed it has received up to 10 new complaints of clerical abuse in the diocese in recent weeks.
According to the group, many of the victims claimed they were fobbed off in the past when they attempted to report the abuse to church authorities.
One in Four's executive director, Maeve Lewis, last night reiterated the group's call for the diocese's bishop, Dr John Magee, to resign, saying his credibility was in tatters and his position untenable.
All of the new complainants are adults who suffered abuse as children.
It is unclear whether any of the priests against whom the new allegations were made are still serving in the diocese.
Most of the new complainants came forward to the support group following the publication of a report by the National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC) last month which dealt with the alleged activities of two priests in the diocese.
Unaware
However, the diocese insisted last night it was unaware of the new complaints.
One in Four executive director Maeve Lewis said it now appeared the allegations dealt with in the NBSC report were "just the tip of the iceberg".
Ms Lewis told the Irish Independent: "We are now aware there are other people who were abused in the diocese of Cloyne who were unhappy with how their complaints were dealt with.
"Some of them would have tried to make contact with the diocese, but didn't get anywhere. Others are only coming forward now to report the abuse."
Dr Magee has so far resisted calls for him to step down after the NBSC report stated he delayed taking action following allegations and that, when he did act, his response was inadequate and dangerous.
And Minister for Children Barry Andrews last night accused the bishop of failing to faithfully report the manner in which sex abuse allegations had been dealt with in the diocese.
The diocese insisted yesterday it was unaware of any fresh allegations, apart from one made anonymously last month.
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(Source: II)