Senior Vatican prosecutor, Monsignor Charles Scicluna today defended the actions of Cardinal Sean Brady in the investigation into child sexual abuse by paedophile priest, Brendan Smyth.
He said that Fr Brady, in 1975, was a note taker who did what he should have done and forwarded all information to people who had to act.
He told Morning Ireland on Radio One: “The Church in Ireland needs to have Cardinal Brady in Armagh. He has shown determination in enacting child protection policies.”
He added that Cardinal Brady was a leader who had learned the hard way that you had to act immediately in relation to allegations.
“My information is that in 1975 Cardinal Brady did exactly what was expected of him in Canon Law.”
He added that he also believed he had fulfilled his moral duty and his duty to the boy reporting the allegations of sexual abuse.
Monsignor Scicluna, who is the equivalent of the Vatican Attorney General, said that Cardinal Brady was “a fit person to lead the Catholic Church in Ireland” and had no questions to answer on last night’s BBC report.