IRELAND
Sunday World
Friday 1st August 2014
● FR. BRIAN D’ARCY
I’ve just read Sworn to Silence, a new book by Brendan Boland which tells of his abuse at the hands of Father Brendan Smyth.
Boland was an eleven-year-old altar boy at the time.
He is 53 years old and only now feels able to tell his story. It makes harrowing reading, not only because it deals with the abuse itself, but also covers the canonical inquiry when the young Brendan was questioned by three priests, including Fr John Brady – now Cardinal Sean Brady.
Brendan Boland tells his story with Darragh MacIntyre, an awarding-winning investigative reporter.
For the first time the transcript of the interview with the three priests is published word for word. With hindsight, the way Brendan was questioned makes truly awful reading.
Here we have an outstanding example of everything that is wrong with the Church’s handling of abuse victims.
In March 1975, Brendan Boland was brave enough to report Smyth’s abuse. This led to a canonical inquiry. Brendan’s father was not allowed to be present at the interview.
In his book, Brendan tells that even though he was only 14 years old at the time, it was obvious the inquiry tried to put the blame on him.
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