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	Church Covered up Priest's Sex Abuses: Irish Judge Brisbane Times December 18, 2010 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/church-covered-up-priests-sex-abuses-irish-judge-20101218-1913l.html Roman Catholic authorities covered up the activities of a notorious former priest who sexually abused hundreds of children in Ireland over almost two decades, a report said on Friday. A judicial commission described Tony Walsh as "probably the most notorious child sexual abuser" to have come to its attention during a ground-breaking probe into child sex abuse in the archdiocese of Dublin, the country's biggest. The report strongly criticises the actions of the Vatican, the Dublin church authorities and the Gardai (Irish police) for their failures in dealing with Walsh, a "singing priest" whose speciality was Elvis Presley impersonations. While a priest, he sang with a group known as the Holy Show and a number of the abuse complaints against him relate to his activities at these performances. Walsh was moved from parish to parish to "avoid scandal" and he continued to abuse children despite priests, canons, monsignors, bishops and the archbishop being aware of his activities. The report says he even sexually assaulted a child in the toilet of a public house following the funeral of the boy's grandfather. This month, Walsh was jailed for 16 years, with four suspended, following his conviction for the sexual abuse of three boys during the late 1970s and early 1980s. "The Commission is aware of more than 40 named people who have complained of child sexual abuse by him," according to the findings of judge Yvonne Murphy published by the justice ministry. "He has admitted to abusing many others; while he may not use the term 'child sexual abuse', he has admitted to using children for sexual gratification once a fortnight over an eight-year period. That constitutes child sexual abuse." The report added: "He claims he did not abuse after that eight year period but the evidence suggests that he continued in a similar pattern. His pattern of behaviour is such that it is likely that he has abused hundreds of children."
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