The long-awaited report into clerical abuse in the Dublin archdiocese has accused gardaí of delays lasting several years in collating key evidence in some child abuse investigations.There is no single chapter in the report on the role played by An Garda Síochána, but a ‘‘significant number’’ of its 47 chapters include criticism of the police force, according to a well-placed source who has viewed the report.
The chapters which identified major shortcomings in the Garda investigations of persistent child abusers were forwarded to Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy by the investigating commission during the summer.
Among the criticisms in the report is a claim that some senior members of An Garda Síochána had deferential relationships with senior clerical figures in the Dublin area.
The publication of the report has been delayed by an examination by the High Court into the case of a former priest whose extradition is being sought from Britain to face claims of child abuse.
The Director of Public Prosecutions initiated extradition proceedings earlier this year in a case relating to alleged abuse going back 20 years.
The chapter dedicated to this individual is one of the ones which contains major criticisms of the manner in which gardaí investigated the case.
The Garda press office said that it was not in a position to comment ahead of the formal publication of the report.
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