IRELAND
Irish Independent
Profile: Micheál Ledwith
Luke Byrne
PUBLISHED
04/08/2016
The current crisis at St Patrick’s College seminary is not the first time it has been subjected to controversy and allegations of sexual misconduct.
Micheál Ledwith, a former president of the institution, was defrocked as a priest by the Pope in 2005.
It came just over a decade after he suddenly stood down from his role at the college, amidst allegations against him of sexual abuse of a minor.
Mr Ledwith, who in recent times has lectured for a religious cult group in the US, was a rising star of the Catholic Church when he was appointed at the age of 42 as president of St Patrick’s in 1985.
He had served as its vice-president, a professor of dogmatic theology, written its history, and was due to celebrate the college’s bicentenary when he unexpectedly stood down in June 1994. At the time, there were rumours of allegations made against him.
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