Bishop Welcomes Report of Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry

Anglo-Celt
January 19, 2017

http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/01/20/4133485-bishop-welcomes-report-of-historical-institutional-abuse-inquiry/

The Bishop of the Diocese of Kilmore, Leo O'Reilly has today welcomed the publication by Judge Anthony Hart of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Report.

“From the outset I wish to apologise to everyone who suffered abuse perpetrated by a priest or religious. To abuse a child is a most abhorrent act, is evil and to be condemned unreservedly,” Bishop O'Reilly stated.

Thinking in particular of the survivors of abuse, he acknowledged what he described as “the long and difficult journey that they have travelled in order to achieve justice and official recognition” of the pain and trauma visited upon them as children.

The inquiry chair Sir Anthony Hart outlined in his report a series of recommendations after he revealed shocking levels of sexual, physical and emotional abuse in the period 1922 to 1995.

Compensation

Judge Hart states that the minimum pay-out to victims should be ?7,500 with the maximum amount given to those who had experienced severe levels of abuse as well as being transported to Australia in a controversial migrant scheme.

Mr Hart said the four-year inquiry found “evidence of systemic failings” in the institutions and homes it investigated.

“From what I have seen of the report the evidence contained in it is at times heart-breaking to read,” added Bishop O'Reilly. “It is clear that many adults who, in the place of parents, were meant to provide love and care to children, failed in a catastrophic manner to protect and nurture their precious charges.”

The HIA investigation also focused on the activities of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth.

The inquiry heard lurid details about the activities of the serial child molester who frequented Catholic residential homes and was convicted of more than 100 child abuse charges. Smyth died in 1997, but during a period of over 40 years, its alleged he sexually abused and indecently assaulted at least 143 children in parishes in Cavan, Belfast, Dublin and the United States.

 

Brendan Smyth

Mr Hart's inquiry found that despite knowing Smyth's history of abusing children, the Norbertine religious order moved the prient to different diocese where he continued to abuse more children.

The inquiry also found that the order, which was headquartered at Kilnacrott Abbey near Ballyjamesduff for many years, also failed to take steps to expel him from priesthood.

“Judge Hart's report reminds us again of the appalling crimes against children committed by Father Brendan Smyth. It also reveals new information highlighting awareness by some in authority of Brendan Smyth's criminal actions much earlier than had been previously understood. It details the many opportunities of preventing further abuse that were missed along the way and the repeated failures that enabled him to continue abusing,” Bishop O'Reilly commented.

He added that the Church “cannot be, and should never have been, a safe harbour” for anyone responsible for abuse. “I am acutely conscious that the Church has a moral responsibility to be demonstratively vigilant in the area of child safeguarding, both in order to ensure the well-being of children, and also to earn the confidence of parents and of children alike.”

 

Reconcilliation

Bishop O'Reilly concluded by stating that the Church would not be found wanting in its support for the healing of those who have suffered abuse.

“As a minimum we owe to those who lost their childhood through abuse the highest of safeguarding standards along with a commitment to assist them in every way possible to find healing and freedom from the abuse and pain so cruelly inflicted on them in their childhood. On behalf of the diocese of Kilmore I am committed to engaging with other bodies in implementing the recommendations in the report to the best of our ability,” he said.