RTE News
March 18, 2010
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0319/abuse.html
[with audio]
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| Donal McKeown 'Bad decision' |
Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor Donal McKeown has defended Catholic Primate of All-Ireland Sean Brady's handling of allegations of abuse by paedophile priest Brendan Smyth.
Last week, it was revealed that in 1975 Cardinal Brady - then a priest - was present when two young victims of the late Fr Smyth were asked to sign an oath of secrecy and had not informed the statutory authorities.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Dr McKeown said Cardinal Brady made a 'bad decision', which he regretted very much.
He also said that people had a right to be sceptical if the current leadership of the Catholic Church fails to address the crisis over clerical child sex abuse.
McGimpsey outlines abuse proposals
Northern Ireland Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has outlined a number of options aimed at meeting the needs of victims of historical child abuse.
The proposals were made in a paper which has been circulated to Michael McGimpsey's Stormont Executive colleagues.
This follows an Assembly motion made in the wake of the Ryan Commission report on child abuse which called on the Executive to 'commission an assessment of the extent of abuse and neglect in Northern Ireland'.
In a statement, Mr McGimpsey pledged that the needs of abuse victims in Northern Ireland would be met and that no victim would be left behind.
He suggested that this would be done by issuing apologies, establishing inquiries or setting up new compensation arrangements.
The contents of the options paper have not been published.
It is understood that the Executive will now examine Mr McGimpsey's proposals with a view to implementing them.
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