Diocese of Dublin Paid out ˆ1.5m in Abuse Cases over Past Year

By Sarah Mac Donald
Irish Independent
May 30, 2013

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/diocese-of-dublin-paid-out-15m-in-abuse-cases-over-past-year-29308816.html

The Catholic diocese of Dublin has paid out ˆ1.5m in abuse settlements and legal costs over the past year.

In its latest update, the Child Safeguarding and Protection Service (CSPS) for the diocese says settlement costs for child sexual abuse by priests in Dublin have so far cost ˆ17.9m. Of this sum, ˆ12.5m covers settlements while ˆ5.4 was spent on legal costs for both sides.

Over the past 12 months, the CSPS was notified of suspicions about two priests who were not previously the subject of complaints. One of priests is now deceased, while the other is not in ministry.

Within child safeguarding there are different categorisations of information with different thresholds designated for a concern or suspicion or allegation.

A suspicion is considered to be at the lower end of the spectrum of disclosure and could for example constitute third hand information. All suspicions or allegations made to the CSPS are reported to the Gardai and HSE.

The CSPS also revealed on Thursday that no allegation of child abuse had been reported against a priest of the diocese who was not already the subject of a complaint over the past 12 months.

That means the total number of priests against whom an allegation of child sexual abuse has been recorded remains at 98. The figure covers a period going back over 70 years.

In a statement, the Director for Child Safeguarding and Protection in Dublin, Andrew Fagan, warned that while there had been a fall off in the number of allegations against those not previously known to them, this must not lead to complacency.

“We continue to monitor those who could pose a risk to children and we must remain steadfast and focused on safeguarding to ensure that the risk to children participating in church life today is minimal,” he said.

The report also shows that 216 civil actions have been taken against 49 priests and former priests who have served in Dublin. A total of 161 actions have concluded and 55 are ongoing.

Eleven priests or former priests who served in Dublin have been convicted in the criminal courts.

In 2009, the Murphy Report revealed a litany of abuse and cover-up in Dublin and four years on, the diocese is still receiving information on abuse carried out by priests who were serial abusers of children, all of whom are already known to the Gardai and the CSPS.

Meanwhile, up to 900 people participated in training and information sessions for the safeguarding of children in the Dublin diocese.

The number of priests, bishops, parish workers, diocesan staff and ancillary staff in schools who have participated in Garda vetting has increased from 6,300 to 32,600.