26/11/2009

Abuse Report 'Not Published In Full'

The body responsible for the pivotal report on the churches handling of child abuse reports against priests, which is expected today, has revealed the report will not be published in full.

The Archdiocese Commission of Investigation expressed regret, stating that "due to circumstances outside its control" there would be omissions in the 700 page document to be released later today.

The commission acknowledged there would be disappointment as this would mean "a full picture is not available" where the actions of some people in church and State authorities were concerned.

The report was compiled from a sample survey of 46 priests against whom allegations were made in the Archdiocese of Dublin, and how the church throughout its ranks handled them.

The Commission also described as "a cause of great regret" the leaking of the report, or parts of it, to a newspaper last weekend.

In that leak it was uncovered that a former garda commissioner and other senior gardaí had improper communications with an Archbishop of Dublin in relation to criminal investigations into the abuse of children.

It is the second high profile impediment to the publication of the document after the report faced a legally enforced delay last month over some of it's contents posing a risk to a criminal investigation.

The high court cleared the report for publication after making some omissions for legal reasons in recent weeks before it was presented to Cabinet Ministers on Tuesday.

Following its approval by the high court The Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, welcomed the court decision saying he was "anxious to put the Report into the public domain as quickly as possible".

Today in Dublin trauma counsellors are preparing for an onslaught of crisis calls after the anticipated revelations of cover-ups by the Catholic Church over the alleged clerical sex abuse.

There was a surge in calls after the publication of the Ryan Report in May, and councellors said they were preparing for a similar reaction to the Dublin Archdiocese inquiry.

The Irish Republic's Health Service Executive has also launched a special extended counselling helpline while the Samaritans said it was fully prepared for an increase in calls.

(DW/BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 June 2009
Church Leaders To Discuss Abuse Scandal With Pope
Irish Catholic Church leaders will meet the Pope on Friday evening to discuss the high profile child abuse scandal. Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin are travelling to Rome to discuss the shockwaves generated by the Ryan Report with Pope Benedict XVI.
01 December 2009
Call To Expel Papal Nuncio Over Abuse Probe
The Papal Nuncio in Ireland has denied 'showing contempt' for the institutions of the State by refusing to respond to requests for information from the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.
07 January 2009
Child Abuse Audit To Be Published
A report detailing the child-protection policies and protocols in every Catholic diocese in the State will be published later today. Minister for Children Barry Andrews will publish the report, compiled by the Health Service Executive (HSE), at a press conference in Dublin this afternoon.
26 May 2016
Commission Report Presents 'Inescapable Lessons' For An Garda Síochána - O Sullivan
The O'Higgins Commission Report presents "inescapable lessons" for An Garda Síochána, Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan has said.
11 December 2009
Pope Shares 'Shame' Felt By Irish
After a meeting with Ireland's most influential clergy today, Pope Benedict has said he shared the "shame" felt by the Irish people over the findings of the Murphy Report into clerical abuse. The statement followed a meeting with Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady along with Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.