IRELAND
The Journal
“I am one of the fortunate survivors to have succeeded in securing a criminal conviction against one of two Spiritan priests who sexually abused me,” writes campaigner Mark Vincent Healy.
THE DIOCESES OF Clogher, Elphin, Killala and Waterford join the infamous group of seven Catholic Church authorities, including Derry, Dramore and Limerick, where not one priest has been convicted for having committed an offence or offences against a child or young person despite numerous allegations since 1 January 1975.
From the 16 dioceses reviewed to date by the National Board for Safeguarding Children, there have been 187 allegations made in relation to 98 priests where there have been no convictions. This represents a third of the church authorities examined where not one priest was held to account. Following the publication of the third tranche of audits, today is yet another difficult day to bear for any survivor from these Catholic Church authorities.
It is hard to take in the sense of pain and suffering inflicted upon those brave enough to bring their case forward, to seek justice. Seven of the 16 dioceses sent their complainants away with nothing for their pain and suffering save an empty apology having re-traumatised them all over again.
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