THE exposé into the cover-up of clerical sex abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese has become an unlikely bestseller -- and is now out of print.All 1,400 copies of the three-volume Commission of Inquiry report have sold out at €10 each.
But those who sought to buy it at the Government Publications Office this week were told it was out of print. The Department of Justice is refusing to print any more copies so it can now only be obtained online.
Andrew Madden, who was abused by paedophile priest Fr Ivan Payne as an altar boy, called for the 700-page report to be reprinted.
"If people are actually walking in and asking to buy a copy and it was unavailable, then the Government should print more copies," he said.
Mr Madden said it was very heartening that there was such a demand for the so-called Murphy Report.
"Most people don't read government reports, they rely on the media's representation of them, so the idea so many people are trying to buy it is very welcome. A lot of people would have a personal interest because they are affected either directly or indirectly," he said.
Independent Wicklow TD Joe Behan said the situation was "shocking".
"I think it's an outrage because obviously there's still quite substantial interest in the report. But particularly to say to people 'go and get it online' -- is not good enough," he said.
Mr Behan said he understood dozens of people had been turned away this week, and many were very annoyed and even "livid".
"You can't expect people to download it and print it off themselves at home, it runs to 700 pages. It was done in our name and this was to be a public report."
Mr Behan said he had submitted a parliamentary question to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern asking him why no more copies of the report were being printed.
"Given all the talk there has been about how the Murphy report was such a success in the past few days, the public who want to read it are now being told it is sold out and out of print. I'm calling on the minister to reverse the decision and immediately order a reprint," he said.
However, the Department of Justice said in a statement: "The department considers this represents a reasonable number of copies, in view of the fact that the report is available on the websites of the department and the Commission of Investigation, and copies are available in public libraries."
But the Department of Justice said the question of printing further copies was "under review".
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