IRELAND
The Irish Times

EOIN BURKE-KENNEDY

The Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dr Dermot Clifford, has written to priests and curates in his diocese asking them to contribute to a fund established to compensate victims of clerical child abuse.

In a statement today, the archbishop confirmed he had written to all 85 clerics in the 46 Tipperary and Limerick parishes, requesting voluntary contributions to the “clergy contribution fund”.

The fund was established five years ago to help the diocese cope with mounting debts incurred as a result of child protection issues.

Dr Clifford said the initiative came from the most recent meeting of the diocese’s council of priests at which it was proposed that the archbishop make a renewed appeal to the priests of the diocese for the restoration of the fund.