IRELAND
Irish Times
Gerry Moriarty
The former abbot of the Kilnacrott Norbertine Abbey in Co Cavan, Kevin Smith, has been accused of telling lies about his knowledge of when Fr Brendan Smyth first began sexually abusing children.
At the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Banbridge, Co Down yesterday it was alleged Abbot Smith lied to the RUC in 1997 when he was interviewed about Smyth’s activities.
He told police it wasn’t until 1989 that he first became aware that Smyth abused children.
Junior counsel for the inquiry Joseph Aiken, however, said Abbot Smith in 1994 told UTV journalist Chris Moore, who first exposed Smyth’s activities, that the paedophile priest received medical treatment for his sexual proclivities in 1968 and 1973 and that he received “institutionalised” treatment in 1974.
Mr Smith also told Moore that Smyth’s behaviour had “perplexed and troubled our community over many years”.
“We always hoped that a combination of treatment, Fr Smyth’s intelligence, and the grace of God would enable Fr Smyth to overcome his disorder,” he said. “We did not adequately understand the compulsive nature of his behaviour or the serious damage it could cause.”
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