Brendan Boland recalls abuse by Father Brendan Smyth

IRELAND
BBC News

[with video]

2 May 2012 Last updated at 04:10 ET

Brendan Boland was 11 years old when he was sexually abused by Fr Brendan Smyth.

Back in 1975, he reported the abuse to Fr (now Cardinal) Sean Brady and two other priests, hoping to end the abuse of him and others. After giving evidence to them he was sworn to secrecy.

Cardinal Brady signed two reports about the abuse of Boland and another boy and passed them on to his bishop, but the police were never informed.

It was not until 1994 that Smyth was convicted of dozens of offences against children over a 40-year period.

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