IRELAND
Irish Independent
High Court orders religious order to provide files on sex abuse accused priests before hearing
Tim Healy
A religious order must provide files in advance of a court hearing on two of its priests alleged to have sexually abused pupils in a Dublin school in the 1970s.
The Holy Ghost Fathers have been ordered by the High Court to provide a victim with its files and any details of what the Order did about complaints against the priests.
The victim, a man the Holy Ghost Fathers accepts was abused by the two priests, alleges the Order failed to act on or report the complaints and caused, permitted and allowed the abuse of children to continue when they knew, or should have known, abuse was occurring.
The Holy Ghost Fathers have admitted they were negligent and, in a solicitor’s letter, have apologised to the man and offered to discuss a settlement. They deny he is entitled to punitive, aggravated or exemplary damages.
They also deny vicariously liable for the acts or wrongs of the two priests but, given the admission of negligence, say the man does not have to prove any such liability.
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