IRELAND
The Irish Times
PATSY McGARRY
How Church’s handling of clerical child abuse led to court cases decades later
1973 Norbertine priest Fr Brendan Smyth began his abuse of schoolboy Brendan Boland (12). It continued for two years.
Early 1975 Brendan Boland spoke to a priest in his home town of Dundalk about his abuse by Smyth. It was reported to church authorities. The bishop of Kilmore, Francis McKiernan, received reports of another allegation of abuse by Smyth involving a boy in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan.
March 1975 Fr Seán Brady was asked by Bishop McKiernan to conduct a canonical inquiry into the two allegations involving Smyth. The then Fr Brady was a 35-year-old teacher at St Patrick’s College, Cavan, and part-time secretary to Bishop McKiernan. Brady also held a doctorate in canon law.
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