Why is Cardinal Cover-up Still Enjoying Retirement? THE CHILD ABUSE COVER-UP; THE BISHOPS.
The Daily Mail (London, England), 27 November 2009 by Senan Molony Political Editor
AS ANGER rages over the Murphy report, questions are being asked about Desmond Connell's future as a cardinal.
Cardinals retain their position for life - unless they resign. Now retired, Dr Connell is the last surviving member of a quartet of Dublin archbishops criticised in the report.
The report details how he eventually passed on the details of 17 clerical sex abusers to gardai after coming under colossal pressure in 1995, but failed to mention a dozen others. Seven years later, in 2002, Cardinal Connell attempted to claim legal privilege over 6,000 files relating to alleged abuse that the Murphy Commission of Inquiry urgently wanted to see.
After another enormous public furore, he eventually relented and the files were passed over.
Last year he caused outrage when he mounted a High Court challenge to try to block the inquiry having access to 5,500 files on priests and abuse allegations. The 83-year-old claimed legal privilege and secured a temporary injunction before withdrawing the legal action two weeks later.
He now lives quietly in retirement in Cabra, and is no longer able to vote for the next Pope as he has passed the age threshold of 80.
The report cites three other Dublin archbishops for keeping the lid on child sex abuse allegations over a 35-year period. John Charles McQuaid, archbishop from 1940 to 1972, is accused of moving priests around when allegations were made, and was also indirectly criticised in the Ryan report into abuse in industrial schools.
As archbishop, he witnessed a huge expansion of the Church in Dublin, with 60 new parishes created, and more than 80 new churches and 250 primary and 100 secondary schools built. The powerful cleric's opinion and support were sought in many areas including the wording of the Irish Constitution, and his influence on Eamon de Valera and the new Republic has been likened to that of a ghostwriter. He died in 1973.
Dermot Ryan (1972-1984) was viewed as a liberal and a reformer. The high point of Ryan's episcopacy was the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979. However, he made no change in the way abusers were dealt with by transferring priests and keeping the allegations quiet.
He died suddenly in Rome in April 1984 at the age of 60.
The first major appointment for Kevin McNamara (1985-1987) was as Bishop of Kerry in succession to scandal-hit Bishop Eamon Casey - who later admitted fathering a son with divorcee Annie Murphy.
He transferred to the archdiocese of Dublin in 1984 when Dermot Ryan was appointed to the Roman Curia. McNamara, an outspoken defender of Catholic doctrine, took out insurance against abuse allegations in an effort to protect the Church against future claims before his death in April 1987.
senan.molony@dailymail.ie
Fr Patrick Maguire is believed to have abused hundreds of children in Ireland, the UK and Japan, where he spent 13 years as a missionary. He was jailed for 18 months for child abuse in 1998 and received a six-year sentence in Ireland in 2000 and a three year suspended sentence in 2007.
Fr Ivan Payne, who was a chaplain at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, is believed to have abused dozens of children. He was convicted of sexually abusing eight boys in 1998. He spent four and a half years in jail. He now lives in Wales.
Fr Harry Moore forced a 16-year-old boy to repeatedly have sex with him between July 1984 and March 1985. He was convicted in May 2005 receiving a seven-year suspended sentence.
Fr James McNamee abused more than 20 children in various parishes before being moved on. He has since died.
Fr Noel Reynolds admitted abusing more than 100 children in eight parishes in the Dublin Archdiocese. He died in 2002.
Fr William Carney abused children between 1974 and 1992. He pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault in 1983.
Fr Dominic Savio Boland, 89, was convicted of indecent assault in 2001 and received a suspended sentence. Lives in a Capuchin Franciscan Order house with restrictions on his activities and ministry.
Fr Thomas Naughton got three years for abusing four boys in 1998. He pleaded guilty to a new complaint in July and will be sentenced next month.
Fr Donal Gallagher abused at least 14 children. He abused them in confession and washed his hands in the altar bowl. He died in 1994.
Fr John Kinsella was jailed for abusing two boys but released in 2001. His whereabouts are unknown.
Fr Francis McCarthy pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two young boys in July 1997. He was grated laicisation in 2005.
CAPTION(S):
Position for life: Cardinal Desmond Connell