IRELAND
Irish Times

Fiona Gartland

An investigation into sexual abuse by a priest had “major flaws” and the prosecution could have faced problems if the accused had not pleaded guilty, the O’Higgins commission found.

Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins also found Supt Noel Cunningham’s direction that the case should be dealt with at District Court if there was a plea of guilty was “difficult to comprehend”.

On September 11th, 2007, at Bailieboro Garda station, Co Cavan, a man made a complaint that his son had been sexually abused by a priest, Fr Michael Molloy. Searches were carried out, a computer, mobile phone and other items were seized, and Fr Molloy was arrested three days later. In March 2008, he was charged with child abuse offences.

At Cavan Circuit Court, in July 2009, he pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 15, one count of defilement under…