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	Bishop Says He Should Have Informed Garda about Abuse Trials By Patsy McGarry The Irish Times March 23, 2010 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0323/1224266875869.html APOLOGY: THE BISHOP of Killaloe, Willie Walsh, has apologised for not informing the Garda when, in the early 1990s, he took part in two canonical trials in the Dublin archdiocese. They resulted in two priests being laicised because of their sexual abuse of children. He cannot comment on one of the trials for legal reasons but of the second he said yesterday: “I was made aware that the gardai and the diocese were already in communication about the case before the canonical process began. “I did not understand it as part of my role therefore to liaise with the gardai in relation to the matter. If I were dealing with the case today I would do so.” The case involved Bill Carney, who recently featured in a BBC Newsnight programme. His canonical trial began in 1990, with the verdict delivered in March 1992. In the second trial the man laicised is currently before the courts on child sex abuse charges. That trial also involved the Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey. Twice, prior his appointment as Bishop of Killaloe in 1994, Bishop Walsh was asked by then Archbishop of Dublin Desmond Connell to be one of three judges in a canonical process involving allegations of sexual abuse against two priests of the diocese. “In the first case, that of William Carney, our judgment was that the most severe penalty in church law, namely laicization or expulsion from priesthood, be applied,” Bishop Walsh said in his statement yesterday. “In carrying out the process we met with a number of complainants. When the complainant was still a minor he/she was always accompanied by parents. No commitment to secrecy was requested. “I was made aware that the gardai and the diocese were already in communication about the case before the canonical process began. “I did not understand it as part of my role therefore to liaise with the gardai in relation to the matter. If I were dealing with the case today I would do so. “The two other judges in the case have since died . . .” he said. Where the second case was concerned, he said “it was also examined by the Murphy commission. The relevant chapter is as yet unpublished for legal reasons. I am precluded by law from revealing anything related to this case until that chapter is published. I will then be accountable for my role when that occurs.” He said that “while I was not involved in any such process in our own diocese I too as a younger priest was part of that oppressive culture of secrecy and undue deference to ecclesiastical authorities. “For that part and for the disastrously inadequate response of our church to the heinous crime of child sex abuse I will always carry a sense of sadness, regret and shame. “I again apologise to all victims of abuse but especially to any victim who may have suffered through any failure on my part.” Since becoming a bishop he had “tried to treat every victim with sympathy, kindness and the deep respect to which they are entitled” and he had reported all cases to the Garda and HSE “and co-operated fully with them”. Bishop Willie Walsh's Statement - Edited Extract I WELCOME the pastoral letter which the holy father has addressed to the people of Ireland in which he states that he shares “his dismay and sense of betrayal which so many people have experienced on learning of these sinful and criminal acts and the way in which church authorities in Ireland dealt with them”. He reminds us as bishops that we have been responsible for grave errors of judgment and failures of leadership which has seriously undermined our credibility . . . The holy father has asked us “to establish the truth of what has happened in the past”. In response to his request and indeed to the many requests I have received from journalists in recent days, I wish to clarify my own story in relation to some of these issues. On two occasions prior to my being appointed bishop of Killaloe, I was asked by the then Archbishop of Dublin to act as one of three judges in a canonical process involving allegations of sexual abuse against two priests of that diocese. In the first case, that of William Carney, our judgment was that the most severe penalty in church law – namely laicisation or expulsion from priesthood – be applied. In carrying out the process we met with a number of complainants. When the complainant was still a minor he/she was always accompanied by parents. No commitment to secrecy was requested. I was made aware that the gardai and the diocese were already in communication about the case before the canonical process began. I did not understand it as part of my role therefore to liaise with the gardai in relation to the matter. If I were dealing with the case today I would do so. The two other judges in the case have since died. I am not aware of any further abuse by the priest after the canonical process was completed. The second case in the Dublin diocese in which I was involved was also examined by the Murphy commission. The relevant chapter is as yet unpublished for legal reasons. I am precluded by law from revealing anything related to this case until that chapter is published. I will then be accountable for my role when that occurs. While I was not involved in any such process in our own diocese, I too as a younger priest was part of that oppressive culture of secrecy and undue deference to ecclesiastical authorities. For that part and for the disastrously inadequate response of our church to the heinous crime of child sex abuse, I will always carry a sense of sadness, regret and shame. I again apologise to all victims of abuse but especially to any victim who may have suffered through any failure on my part .
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