RAPHOE (IRELAND)
Irish Independent [Dublin, Ireland]
December 14, 2023
By Emma Ryan
The Bishop of Raphoe has said he is ‘deeply saddened and ashamed’ by the sexual abuse of a minor carried out by a former County Donegal priest.
At Donegal Circuit Court yesterday, Eamonn Crossan pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of a minor in the 1990s.
He was a priest in the Diocese of Raphoe from 1976 and was removed from the ministry in 1998 following an earlier complaint for which he served time in prison for.
Bishop McGuckian said he was “deeply saddened and ashamed that an innocent child had to endure such abuse, especially at the hands of a priest who was in a position of sacred trust”.
In a statement issued after Crossan’s court appearance, Bishop McGuckian said, “No words of mine can atone for the suffering caused to an innocent person and to his family and yet I want to apologise most sincerely.
“If anyone else has a concern or complaint, either now or from the past, I encourage them to come forward and contact both the diocese and the statutory authorities.”
To report a concern or complaint of child abuse, either current or historical, contact Margaret Northage, the Designated Liaison Person for the Diocese, on 0862183011, or go directly to the statutory authorities.
Free counselling and support is available through Towards Healing, an independent organisation providing professional support for people who have experienced institutional, clerical or religious abuse in Ireland. Freephone 1800 303 416.