IRELAND
The Irish Times
STEVEN CARROLL and PATSY McGARRY
Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has said he regrets a recent decision by a child safeguarding representative to step down after learning a priest in her area had been on “restricted ministry” for years after child sex abuse allegations were made against him.
Dr Martin said the case in a Dublin Catholic parish was “a classic example of the lacunas that exist in our current legislation” as he was restricted from sharing information about the priest as it was not sufficient to result in a conviction.
“There is a real need to update our legislation which respect the rights of individuals but also respects and covers the need to share information with those who have responsibility,” he told RTÉ’s Today with Pat Kenny programme.
Dr Martin said there was a “very serious difficulty” around soft information and legislation had been promised for some time. Soft information is material not strong enough to base a prosecution or conviction but indicates a concern over the suitability of a person to have access to children.
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