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…