Pledge to prevent repeat of abuse
Structures have been put in place to ensure the devastating revelations of the Cloyne Report never happen again, the cleric overseeing the diocese pledged tonight.
Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dermot Clifford apologised to all those who suffered abuse and claimed he would have preferred Bishop John Magee to have been present to answer for his failings.
The Cloyne apostolic administrator said the blame for what happened in the Co Cork diocese lay squarely with Bishop Magee.
“The unfortunate thing is he didn’t pay enough attention,” Archbishop Clifford said.
“He left it to someone else to do all the work, didn’t supervise it and therefore he has the main blame for what has happened in the diocese.”
He said he was not in touch with Bishop Magee and believed he was out of the country.
“I’d be very happy if he was sitting here in this seat and it’s a pity that he isn’t,” the Archbishop said.
Archbishop Clifford said he was appalled by the depth of damage and suffering caused by a minority of clergy in the diocese and said he was sorry that those who were abused were failed.
“We have put structures in place that will go as near as humanly possible to ensure this kind of thing never happens again,” the Archbishop said.
Archbishop Clifford said the diocese now manages complaints, suspicions and concerns in accordance with the guidelines issued by the National Board for Safeguarding Children.
He said there was full co-operation and information-sharing between the gardai and Health Service Executive, while garda vetting has been carried out for all priests of the diocese in active ministry.
“It is a very sad day for all the priests and people in the Diocese of Cloyne. We sincerely hope that our responses to complaints and the ongoing efforts in safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in the diocese will go some way to atone for the grave failures of the past,” Archbishop Clifford said.
