IRELAND
Irish Times
Patsy McGarry
Mon, Aug 18, 2014
Abuse victim Brendan Boland (53) has expressed disappointment at the manner of Cardinal Brady’s retirement as Archbishop of Armagh and Catholic Primate of All-Ireland.
The cardinal, who was 75 on Saturday, has submitted his resignation to Rome, as is required of all Catholic bishops when they reach that age. He remains a cardinal for life and may continue to vote in papal elections until August 16th, 2019, when he will be 80.
In 1975 Brendan Boland, then 14, was questioned by canon lawyer Fr John Brady and Dundalk parish priest Msgr Francis Donnelly on allegations he made about being abused by Norbertine priest Fr Brendan Smyth.
Present in support of Brendan Boland was then young Dominican priest Fr Oliver McShane in whom the teenager had first confided about the abuse. Fr McShane has since left the priesthood. At the end of the inquiry Brendan Boland was sworn to secrecy by Fr Brady.
On Cardinal Brady’s letter of resignation, Brendan Boland said yesterday “it’s a long time coming.” He felt “he should have done it back in 2010. Maybe he should not have taken the job at all in 1994 when he found out Smyth was arrested in Northern Ireland”.
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