LIMERICK DIOCESE: DR DONAL Murray was praised in yesterday’s audit of the Limerick diocese for implementing “robust safeguards” to deal with allegations against Limerick priests, despite having been forced to resign as the bishop of Limerick in 2009 over his handling of allegations of clerical child sexual abuse in the Dublin archdiocese.The report on the audit of the Limerick diocese’s child safeguarding procedures said Dr Murray was “credited with putting in place in the diocese robust safeguards and prompt responses to allegations of abuse”.
“The vacuum created by his departure is still felt in the diocese, though the presence of the diocesan administrator, Fr Tony Mullins, enables the business of safeguarding children to remain a central focus in the diocese,” the report said. “Significantly, the departure of Bishop Murray had a major influence on the confidence of diocesan staff in carrying out their safeguarding duties.”
The audit by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland singles out Dr Murray’s predecessor, Bishop Jeremiah Newman, for inadequate handling of dealing with allegations, although it does not name him.
“Prior to Bishop Murray, practice was very poor and in our view, in one case, potentially dangerous. There is documentary evidence relating to a former bishop, whilst apparently having knowledge of a priest’s abusive behaviour in England, giving faculties to him to minister in Limerick, where it is believed he may have gone on to abuse again.”
Bishop Newman, from Dromcollogher, Co Limerick, was bishop from 1974 until his death in 1995.
The audit dealt with 16 files relating to 45 complaints of a sexual nature against 26 priests.
All 26 cases were notified to gardaí and the Health Service Executive. No criminal charge was brought in any of the cases.
Fourteen of the priests accused of improper behaviour with children are deceased.
The diocesan office yesterday stated that 11 of the accused priests were deceased at the time the allegations were made against them; 12 of the 26 are still alive.
Of those still living, four are in ministry or retired and eight are out of ministry, subject to strict monitoring.
Five of the eight have to face the same rigours as registered sex offenders.
They are continually supervised, gardaí and the HSE must be kept aware of their addresses, and they are subject to regular meetings with the diocese and State authorities.
The church continues to provide financial support to the five priests, provided they refrain from wearing clerical vestments, do not say Mass and do not come into close contact with children.
Overall, the report found that, of the 48 criteria requested from the diocese, 44 have been “fully met”, while the remaining four have been “partially met”.
Most allegations relate to abuse that took place in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The last known date of alleged abuse was in 1994.
The report stated it was “very impressed” by the collaboration between the diocese, HSE and Garda on their management of allegations.
Welcoming the report’s findings, Dr Murray said: “I am particularly pleased that the report shows excellent practice in Limerick today and recognises the competence of personnel involved in case management and safeguarding. The diocese continues to improve its safeguarding practices in the light of the lessons of the past and the guidance of the National Board. In the context of the suffering inflicted on innocent children, nobody can feel complacent. It is unacceptable that anyone who was abused as a child did not receive all the understanding and respect that they had every right to expect.”