The Catholic Church faced further allegations of mishandling child sex abuse in Ireland today after claims that a girl abused by a priest was sworn to secrecy in an out-of-court settlement as recently as 2000. The victim went public with her claims that she was abused over a 10-year period by an unnamed priest, but said she was bound to secrecy in a legal deal which involved the Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty. The fresh controversy comes after revelations that the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Cardinal Sean Brady remained silent for 35 years over two abuse cases involving a notorious paedophile priest. The latest case involves a woman who said that a decade of abuse by a priest who had befriended her family began in 1979. She told her parents only on the day of her 18th birthday after becoming overwhelmed by events. A spokesman for Bishop Hegarty said today he was aware of the case, but would not be commenting until a detailed review of the file had been carried out. He confirmed the bishop’s office was alerted to the woman’s claims yesterday afternoon by the Belfast Telegraph newspaper, but had not immediately reviewed the case because of the St Patrick’s Day holiday. An official responsible for overseeing the Church’s handling of abuse claims said out-of-court settlements were not acceptable. Ian Elliott, chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, said: “If any situation comes to light involving a child, then the policy of the church, and the absolute commitment that is given, is that that information will be conveyed to the appropriate state authorities, the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) and the social services.” Related Stories:18/03/2010: I was sworn to secrecy over priest's abuse, says woman18/03/2010: Bishop of Derry implicated in abuse cover-up18/03/2010: Brady 'undermines Church's stance on child protection'17/03/2010: Cardinal should quit, say victims of abuse17/03/2010: O'Gorman: Cardinal's defence is 'inexcusable'17/03/2010: Monsignor 'would not necessarily report abuse', and defends Brady17/03/2010: Vienna boys' choir starts abuse probe17/03/2010: Madden: Cardinal's 'notion of careful reflection' nonsense17/03/2010: Pope hopes abuse letter will help healing17/03/2010: 'Ashamed' Brady apologises for any failure of his17/03/2010: Brady to 'reflect' on role in weeks ahead17/03/2010: Archbishop Martin: Country-wide inquiry may be only way forward16/03/2010: Archbishop Martin refuses to demand Cardinal Brady's resignation16/03/2010: Deputy First Minister joins calls for Brady resignation16/03/2010: Top clerics 'advised psychiatric treatment for Smyth'16/03/2010: Victim's group calls for Government intervention in Brady scandal16/03/2010: Rabbitte: Brady must step down16/03/2010: Cowen: Church authorities must decide on fate of Brady15/03/2010: Catholic priest abuser removed from his post - again15/03/2010: Action 35 years ago 'could have saved abuse victims'15/03/2010: Labour calls for Garda probe into Brady's handling of Smyth affair15/03/2010: Pope to address Irish abuse scandals with 'decisive' letter15/03/2010: Cardinal 'has blood on his hands'15/03/2010: Brady: Only the Pope can tell me to go15/03/2010: Cardinal under pressure to resign over child abuse case15/03/2010: Brady defends role in child abuse cover-up14/03/2010: Vatican denies celibacy led to sex abuse scandals14/03/2010: Brady urged to resign as new sex abuse cover-up emerges14/03/2010: Cardinal Brady failed to report Brendan Smyth sex abuse allegations09/03/2010: Vatican says abuse scandal extends beyond Church02/03/2010: Parishioners asked to help fund sex abuse compensation02/03/2010: Bishop appeals to parishes to help meet cost of abuse cases21/02/2010: Bishop Moriarty resignation 'likely to be accepted soon'20/02/2010: Pope officially invited to visit Ireland19/02/2010: Abuse victims accuse archbishop of closing ranks19/02/2010: Abuse victims' group to raise 'disappointment' with Archbishop17/02/2010: Archbishop: Vatican summit not a wasted opportunity17/02/2010: Archbishop: Meeting is 'first step in long process'17/02/2010: Bishop disappointed at negative reaction to summit17/02/2010: Vatican statement 'a cynical PR exercise': O'Gorman17/02/2010: Finlay: Abuse summit 'shockingly anti-climactic'16/02/2010: Abuse survivors 'deeply insulted' by Pope's comments16/02/2010: Pope meeting with bishops 'a charade'16/02/2010: US abuse survivors group hits out at papal response
Thursday, March 18, 2010
I was sworn to secrecy over priest's abuse, says woman
I was sworn to secrecy over priest's abuse, says woman 18/03/2010 - 10:08:47The Catholic Church faced further allegations of mishandling child sex abuse in Ireland today after claims that a girl abused by a priest was sworn to secrecy in an out-of-court settlement as recently as 2000. The victim went public with her claims that she was abused over a 10-year period by an unnamed priest, but said she was bound to secrecy in a legal deal which involved the Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty. The fresh controversy comes after revelations that the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Cardinal Sean Brady remained silent for 35 years over two abuse cases involving a notorious paedophile priest. The latest case involves a woman who said that a decade of abuse by a priest who had befriended her family began in 1979. She told her parents only on the day of her 18th birthday after becoming overwhelmed by events. A spokesman for Bishop Hegarty said today he was aware of the case, but would not be commenting until a detailed review of the file had been carried out. He confirmed the bishop’s office was alerted to the woman’s claims yesterday afternoon by the Belfast Telegraph newspaper, but had not immediately reviewed the case because of the St Patrick’s Day holiday. An official responsible for overseeing the Church’s handling of abuse claims said out-of-court settlements were not acceptable. Ian Elliott, chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, said: “If any situation comes to light involving a child, then the policy of the church, and the absolute commitment that is given, is that that information will be conveyed to the appropriate state authorities, the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) and the social services.” Related Stories:18/03/2010: I was sworn to secrecy over priest's abuse, says woman18/03/2010: Bishop of Derry implicated in abuse cover-up18/03/2010: Brady 'undermines Church's stance on child protection'17/03/2010: Cardinal should quit, say victims of abuse17/03/2010: O'Gorman: Cardinal's defence is 'inexcusable'17/03/2010: Monsignor 'would not necessarily report abuse', and defends Brady17/03/2010: Vienna boys' choir starts abuse probe17/03/2010: Madden: Cardinal's 'notion of careful reflection' nonsense17/03/2010: Pope hopes abuse letter will help healing17/03/2010: 'Ashamed' Brady apologises for any failure of his17/03/2010: Brady to 'reflect' on role in weeks ahead17/03/2010: Archbishop Martin: Country-wide inquiry may be only way forward16/03/2010: Archbishop Martin refuses to demand Cardinal Brady's resignation16/03/2010: Deputy First Minister joins calls for Brady resignation16/03/2010: Top clerics 'advised psychiatric treatment for Smyth'16/03/2010: Victim's group calls for Government intervention in Brady scandal16/03/2010: Rabbitte: Brady must step down16/03/2010: Cowen: Church authorities must decide on fate of Brady15/03/2010: Catholic priest abuser removed from his post - again15/03/2010: Action 35 years ago 'could have saved abuse victims'15/03/2010: Labour calls for Garda probe into Brady's handling of Smyth affair15/03/2010: Pope to address Irish abuse scandals with 'decisive' letter15/03/2010: Cardinal 'has blood on his hands'15/03/2010: Brady: Only the Pope can tell me to go15/03/2010: Cardinal under pressure to resign over child abuse case15/03/2010: Brady defends role in child abuse cover-up14/03/2010: Vatican denies celibacy led to sex abuse scandals14/03/2010: Brady urged to resign as new sex abuse cover-up emerges14/03/2010: Cardinal Brady failed to report Brendan Smyth sex abuse allegations09/03/2010: Vatican says abuse scandal extends beyond Church02/03/2010: Parishioners asked to help fund sex abuse compensation02/03/2010: Bishop appeals to parishes to help meet cost of abuse cases21/02/2010: Bishop Moriarty resignation 'likely to be accepted soon'20/02/2010: Pope officially invited to visit Ireland19/02/2010: Abuse victims accuse archbishop of closing ranks19/02/2010: Abuse victims' group to raise 'disappointment' with Archbishop17/02/2010: Archbishop: Vatican summit not a wasted opportunity17/02/2010: Archbishop: Meeting is 'first step in long process'17/02/2010: Bishop disappointed at negative reaction to summit17/02/2010: Vatican statement 'a cynical PR exercise': O'Gorman17/02/2010: Finlay: Abuse summit 'shockingly anti-climactic'16/02/2010: Abuse survivors 'deeply insulted' by Pope's comments16/02/2010: Pope meeting with bishops 'a charade'16/02/2010: US abuse survivors group hits out at papal response
The Catholic Church faced further allegations of mishandling child sex abuse in Ireland today after claims that a girl abused by a priest was sworn to secrecy in an out-of-court settlement as recently as 2000. The victim went public with her claims that she was abused over a 10-year period by an unnamed priest, but said she was bound to secrecy in a legal deal which involved the Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty. The fresh controversy comes after revelations that the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Cardinal Sean Brady remained silent for 35 years over two abuse cases involving a notorious paedophile priest. The latest case involves a woman who said that a decade of abuse by a priest who had befriended her family began in 1979. She told her parents only on the day of her 18th birthday after becoming overwhelmed by events. A spokesman for Bishop Hegarty said today he was aware of the case, but would not be commenting until a detailed review of the file had been carried out. He confirmed the bishop’s office was alerted to the woman’s claims yesterday afternoon by the Belfast Telegraph newspaper, but had not immediately reviewed the case because of the St Patrick’s Day holiday. An official responsible for overseeing the Church’s handling of abuse claims said out-of-court settlements were not acceptable. Ian Elliott, chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, said: “If any situation comes to light involving a child, then the policy of the church, and the absolute commitment that is given, is that that information will be conveyed to the appropriate state authorities, the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) and the social services.” Related Stories:18/03/2010: I was sworn to secrecy over priest's abuse, says woman18/03/2010: Bishop of Derry implicated in abuse cover-up18/03/2010: Brady 'undermines Church's stance on child protection'17/03/2010: Cardinal should quit, say victims of abuse17/03/2010: O'Gorman: Cardinal's defence is 'inexcusable'17/03/2010: Monsignor 'would not necessarily report abuse', and defends Brady17/03/2010: Vienna boys' choir starts abuse probe17/03/2010: Madden: Cardinal's 'notion of careful reflection' nonsense17/03/2010: Pope hopes abuse letter will help healing17/03/2010: 'Ashamed' Brady apologises for any failure of his17/03/2010: Brady to 'reflect' on role in weeks ahead17/03/2010: Archbishop Martin: Country-wide inquiry may be only way forward16/03/2010: Archbishop Martin refuses to demand Cardinal Brady's resignation16/03/2010: Deputy First Minister joins calls for Brady resignation16/03/2010: Top clerics 'advised psychiatric treatment for Smyth'16/03/2010: Victim's group calls for Government intervention in Brady scandal16/03/2010: Rabbitte: Brady must step down16/03/2010: Cowen: Church authorities must decide on fate of Brady15/03/2010: Catholic priest abuser removed from his post - again15/03/2010: Action 35 years ago 'could have saved abuse victims'15/03/2010: Labour calls for Garda probe into Brady's handling of Smyth affair15/03/2010: Pope to address Irish abuse scandals with 'decisive' letter15/03/2010: Cardinal 'has blood on his hands'15/03/2010: Brady: Only the Pope can tell me to go15/03/2010: Cardinal under pressure to resign over child abuse case15/03/2010: Brady defends role in child abuse cover-up14/03/2010: Vatican denies celibacy led to sex abuse scandals14/03/2010: Brady urged to resign as new sex abuse cover-up emerges14/03/2010: Cardinal Brady failed to report Brendan Smyth sex abuse allegations09/03/2010: Vatican says abuse scandal extends beyond Church02/03/2010: Parishioners asked to help fund sex abuse compensation02/03/2010: Bishop appeals to parishes to help meet cost of abuse cases21/02/2010: Bishop Moriarty resignation 'likely to be accepted soon'20/02/2010: Pope officially invited to visit Ireland19/02/2010: Abuse victims accuse archbishop of closing ranks19/02/2010: Abuse victims' group to raise 'disappointment' with Archbishop17/02/2010: Archbishop: Vatican summit not a wasted opportunity17/02/2010: Archbishop: Meeting is 'first step in long process'17/02/2010: Bishop disappointed at negative reaction to summit17/02/2010: Vatican statement 'a cynical PR exercise': O'Gorman17/02/2010: Finlay: Abuse summit 'shockingly anti-climactic'16/02/2010: Abuse survivors 'deeply insulted' by Pope's comments16/02/2010: Pope meeting with bishops 'a charade'16/02/2010: US abuse survivors group hits out at papal response
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