IRELAND
RTE News

The Irish Times has apologised for publishing a controversial cartoon by its contributor Martyn Turner, calling it “an editorial lapse”.

The cartoon, published on Wednesday, dealt with mandatory reporting requirements for priests on child abuse and portrayed a priest saying he “would do anything for children, but not that”.

An editorial in this morning’s newspaper said things sometimes “flew under the editorial radar”.

The editorial said the cartoon had taken an unfortunate and unjustified “sideswipe at all priests”, suggesting that none of them could be trusted by with children.

The cartoon had caused considerable offence, the paper said, and it regretted and apologised for the hurt.