Two Donegal sisters who were sexually abused by a priest when they were children hope that an apology from the Diocese will help them move on to the next chapter of their lives.
The Diocese of Raphoe has issued an apology to Margaret and Paula Martin who were sexually abused by former priest Con Cunningham.
In July 2021, former Donegal priest Con Cunningham was sentenced to 15 months for the sexual abuse of two young sisters in the 1970s, between 1971 and 1975.
He pleaded guilty to eight separate counts of indecent assault.
Margaret and Pauline Martin, who were aged between 11 and 13 years and nine and 12 years at the time, waived their right to anonymity to name Cunningham.
Cunningham was laicised in March 2022.
On Monday, the Diocese of Raphoe issued a public apology to Margaret and Paula Martin.
The sisters are hopeful that the apology will allow them to heal from the abuse.
In a statement released through their solicitors, Caldwell and Robinson, the sisters thanked their families, medical professionals and their legal team for their support.
They also thanked the representatives of the Diocese of Raphoe, Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, Bishop Alan Mc Guckian and Bishop Phillip Boyce who ‘took the courage to open and participate in this process.’
They also thanked the ‘very courageous person’ who successfully took the first case against Con Cunningham.
“You gave us the courage we needed to speak,” said Margaret and Pauline.
The sisters also thanked each other for their unwavering support and said they are looking forward to moving on from this chapter.
“Last but not least, deep gratitude to each other, for the support, for lifting each other up when we fell, for finding the love and courage in each other to get to this day.
“Now we look forward to closing this chapter of our lives and allowing healing to finally close these wounds.
“We encourage others who are suffering in silence to come forward and find the support you deserve.
“In Peace, Margaret and Paula Martin.”
The Diocese said it was making the public apology following a process of engagement with the two victims.
Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, Diocesan Administrator, apologised for the ‘trauma and harm’ the sisters experienced through the abuse that was perpetrated upon them as children by Con Cunningham.
Mgr Gillespie said when the matter was brought to Bishop Seamus Hegarty in 1994, he considered the accounts to be truthful.
However, the sisters were not made aware of the process which he was following and they were not informed that they were believed.
"You were left in the situation of not knowing what had been done, if anything at all.
"This created an additional burden for each of you over a period of eight years before you next heard from the Diocese,” said Mgr Gillespie.
In 2002, the Diocese reported the complaints to the Gardaí, for the first time.
The apology continued, “In doing so, the Diocese then also contacted you both and informed you of its acceptance of its requirement to make this report.
"This in turn led you to meet with the Gardaí and to begin a process of making criminal complaints. You were both thrust into a criminal investigative process at that time, for which you were not yet ready.
"Whilst this was underway, you identified to the Diocese three measures that you wished to see happen at that time.
"You asked that Con Cunningham would resign from his position of Parish Priest of Falcarragh, that he would be prohibited from contact with children through his role as a priest and that he would be asked to respond formally to your complaints.
"Con Cunningham resigned his position as Parish Priest and agreed he would cease the exercise of public ministry.
“He also put in writing that he accepted the truth of each of your complaints.
"Upon being made aware of these outcomes you both informed the Gardaí that you did not wish to proceed further with your criminal complaints.
“You trusted the Diocese to fulfil its responsibilities to oversee Con Cunningham's adherence to the restrictions that were imposed upon him."
In 2018, the sisters were again contacted by the Diocese in the context of criminal charges which were then coming before the courts in connection with Con Cunningham's abuse of another child, now also an adult, and which related also to the 1970s.
The sisters then became concerned at that stage that adequate steps had not been taken by the Diocese in its supervision of Con Cunningham between 2002 and 2018.
The apology continues, ”You both continue to carry a deep sense of concern that other children may have been left vulnerable to risk of abuse through these years.
“I wish to acknowledge that our Diocese failed profoundly in its pastoral responsibility of care and concern for your wellbeing during the years from 1994 to 2018.
"I acknowledge that we failed to fulfil our own policy of reporting complaints of this nature to the civil authorities between 1996 and 2002.
“I acknowledge that during the period of 2002 until Con Cunningham's conviction in 2018, it was not made clear within the Diocese that he was the subject of complaints of child sexual abuse and therefore potentially a risk to children.
“I wish to apologise to each of you for our profound failures and for the effects of these failures upon your lives over more than three decades.
"I acknowledge our part in your egregious suffering and its lifelong effects. I recognise that this has effected your parents and siblings and your own families and friends.
“You have not only been abused but also deeply offended in your human dignity and wounded in your lives of faith.”
The apology said it recognises the motivation for coming forward in 1994 was that others might be protected.
The Diocese is making a public appeal to others who have suffered abuse through the wrongdoing of a cleric to consider coming forward.
In conclusion, Mgr Gillespie said he is deeply grateful to the victims for the learnings they have imparted.
"My hope is that you may find peace and that the Diocese may do better in accompanying those who have suffered abuse at the hands of a priest as a result of what you have shared of your experience.”
In a statement from the Diocese of Raphoe, it said its apology traces the history of how complaints against Con Cunningham were addressed and the shortcomings of the diocese in the actions taken.
"Above all it seeks to acknowledge the experience and perspective of these two sisters who have suffered so much and whose sufferings were compounded by a lack of adequate communication and support on our part.
“The desire of Margaret and Paula is one that is shared by me and which I hope will become more and more the culture of the diocese, namely to encourage those to come forward who have hesitated to do so and to know they would be supported and accompanied in the actions they may wish to take.
“In particular, I would wish for a ‘pastoral conversion’, to quote a phrase beloved of the late Pope Francis, that communicates to victims of sexual abuse on the part of clergy that they are not viewed in any way as a threat but rather welcomed as instruments of truth and justice,” it reads.
The statement said it is not easy to face behaviours and attitudes that shame us and call into question the nature and purpose of the Church’s ministry.
"This diocese and the whole Church owes a debt of gratitude to those who have come forward to seek justice and to put to rights the manifold wrongs of abuse.
"In doing so they have deepened our understanding of the effects of these crimes and have done a great deal to ensure that our Church environments are safer places in which our young people and families can grow in faith, love and life.”
The statement continues by urging other victims to come forward.
“I wish also to underline how clear it is to me that Margaret and Paula Martin have been deeply motivated from the beginning by a preoccupation for the safety and wellbeing of children in our Church, and I know that this lies at the heart of the decision of so many others who have come forward.
"It is my hope that others who have experienced this trauma in their lives may feel they can have confidence in our diocese if they wish to come forward with the account of their abuse.
“It remains the obligation of the diocese to report all complaints to the civil authorities and to respect the processes that may be undertaken, but, along with the processes of justice, the journey of healing can begin.
“If you have been abused, please come forward and report it to the relevant authorities. It is my humble hope that we will be ready to listen to you and to support you.”
To report a concern, or complaint of child abuse, either current or historical, please contact Margaret Northage, the Designated Liaison Person for the diocese, on: 086 2183 011.
You are advised also to contact statutory authorities Tusla (Child & Family Agency) on 074 9102233 and the Gardaí National Protective Services Bureau on 01 6663430/6663435.
In an emergency, please contact Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 9167100.
Free Counselling and Support is available through Towards Healing, an independent organisation providing professional support for people who have experienced institutional, clerical or religious abuse in Ireland.
Freephone Rol: 1800 303416,
N.Ireland & UK: 0800 0963315 or
Freephone Hearing Impaired: 085 8022859.