The High Court in Dublin has reserved judgment after
a Catholic bishop applied to have three cases against him by victims of
paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth dismissed. The Bishop of Kilmore, Dr Leo O'Reilly, has asked the court to stop Mario Cafolla suing him, in his role as Bishop of Kilmore, over alleged failures by the diocese and Catholic Church.
Mr Cafolla insists he is entitled to sue Bishop O'Reilly, as well as Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Sean Brady.
He has alleged that that a previous Bishop of Kilmore, Dr Francis McKiernan, was made aware in 1975 that Brendan Smyth was abusing children but failed to report that to the Garda or Mr Cafolla's parents.
It is alleged that a young boy had told the then Fr Sean Brady that Smyth was abusing children in 1975.
That boy was asked to sign a document stating he would not tell anyone else about the abuse, Liam Reidy SC, for Mr Cafolla, said.
While that boy had reported that Mario Cafolla was among the children being abused by Smyth, no steps were taken to either inform the Garda or his parents, counsel added.
Mr Cafolla claims it could have spared him and his sister, who was also abused by Smyth, from further suffering.