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  Paedophile Priest to Be Defrocked

Kilkenny Today [Ireland]
November 2, 2005

Bishop Laurence Forristal plans to defrock a paedophile priest who lives in Kilkenny and was the subject of the largest single child abuse investigation in the history of the State.

The diocese has disclosed that it is not supporting the convicted child abuser financially and has made settlements with the shamed cleric's victims. Other cases are pending.

The man was found guilty on a number of counts of sexual abuse and served six years of a nine year sentence.

Diocesan spokesman Fr Dan Carroll told the Kilkenny People that the former parish priest will shortly be stripped of all ecclesiastic status.

"The Vatican has been informed and we hope that the process will be expedited as quickly as possible," Fr Carroll said.

"We recognise the victims' grevious hurt and we will do everything in our power to help them. Hopefully this move might bring some closure to some of his victims."

New case

The 'People has also learned for the first time that another priest with a foreign conviction for child sex abuse worked in the diocese until 1996 when he was asked to step aside.

That priest has remained in the area and is living on a church pension. There has been no local complaint against him.

To date ten people have brought civil claims against the diocese for alleged child sexual abuse.

Allegations were made against a total of five priests. All of the priests stepped aside from their clerical work following the allegations.

"None of the men who have been the subject of claims are working actively," Fr Carroll said.

"They don't wear a collar and gardai are aware of their whereabouts. None of these men are being financed by the diocese," Fr Carroll said.

The cases date back as far as 1960. To date E370,000 has been paid out in compensation to six victims of four priests. Two of the men are now dead.

There are three civil actions pending involving two priests.

Fr Carroll said that in five cases, once the diocese became aware of the abuse, the correct procedures were followed.

"When we became aware of the allegations we informed the gardai and the health board, and the priests in question were told to step down," he said.

Apology

This weekend, Bishop Forristal distributed an apology to all the parishes in the diocese in relation to the abuse.

"For those who have suffered in our own diocese, words of apology appear very weak and inadequate and yet cannot be left unspoken.

"Our first concern must be to reach out to victims and to ensure that what has happened will never happen again. We fully acknowledge the hurt that remains with those who have suffered, not only the victims but their families and friends," he said.

The bishop acknowledged that the abuse was inexcusable.

"This is not the time nor the place for justification or excuses. It is a time not only to apologise but also to complete the task of putting in place policies and procedures approved and monitored by outside agencies.

 
 

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