The clearing of the name of Kerry priest Fr Liam
O’Brien who was falsely accused by a woman of abuse, has highlighted
“two matters of great concern,” the leadership of the Association of
Catholic Priests (ACP) has said.
The association said there are a considerable number of false allegations being made against individuals.
“We
have known of this for some time. Priests are now an easy target, and
there are a considerable number of false allegations being made against
individuals,” they said.
And there was “the absence, in most cases
including this one, of any real support from church authorities for a
priest who finds himself in this terrible situation.”
Apology
Apology
On Wednesday, Eileen Culloty apologised at the High Court in Dublin to Fr O’Brien whom she had falsely accused of abusing her.
In
a brief statement the Bishop of Kerry, Bill Murphy, welcomed
Ms Culloty’s apology at the High Court “in relation to a series of
untrue allegations she made against Fr O’Brien”.
He
said: “As bishop I have a pastoral responsibility to the faithful in
the Diocese of Kerry, and in particular a duty of care to my priests. In
the case of Fr Liam O’Brien I am delighted that the truth has been
established. Fr O’Brien is a priest in good standing. I met with Fr Liam
O’Brien on a number of occasions and discussed the situation with him.”
He added that a “Care of Priests” group had been
established a number of years ago in the diocese with the role of
supporting priests.
Building supports for priests will continue to be a priority in the Diocese of Kerry into the future, he said.
Allegations
Allegations
In
December 2008, Ms Culloty, who lives beside the presbytery at Currow,
Killarney, Co Kerry, wrote a letter to Bishop Murphy in which she made
the untrue allegations against Fr O’Brien.
These she later repeated to
gardaí, the Health Service Executive and the Personal Injuries
Assessment Board.
In February 2011 she disrupted a funeral in Currow at
which Fr O’Brien officiated.
In a letter read at
the High Court this week she undertook never to repeat the false
allegations.
She also apologised for the funeral incident and said she
accepted Fr O’Brien was a priest of the utmost integrity and that he
never behaved in any untoward way.
Robert Dore,
solicitor for Fr O’Brien who is based in Killorglin, Co Kerry, said the
priest had agreed not to proceed with an action against Ms Culloty on
the basis of her apology.
The ACP said it was
“delighted” that Fr O’Brien’s “long nightmare” was over.
It thanked Mr
Dore and the legal team for “the great work done” and wished Fr O’Brien
well in the future.