IRELAND
Irish Independent
Ralph Riegel
PUBLISHED
19/10/2015
The priest at the centre of the Cloyne Report is pursuing a challenge under canonical law to his dismissal from the clergy.
The priest, referred to in the Cloyne Report as ‘Fr Ronat’ and ‘Fr B’, has vowed to clear his name with a full legal challenge to Rome.
The Irish Independent understands that a central element of the challenge will be the church’s decision to issue an apology and offer compensation to those who had levelled allegations against him while the disciplinary process was still ongoing.
The cleric’s legal team has argued that this stance was taken despite the fact that the cleric was acquitted in two criminal trials. He has consistently protested his innocence.
The dismissal of ‘Fr Ronat’ from the clerical state was recommended by an Irish canonical court almost two years ago. This was ratified by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of Rome’s highest clerical courts, despite an appeal from Fr Ronat.
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