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Catholic Church asks Garda to examine if clerical child sex ring existed
Monday, 30 November 2009
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The archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has asked the Garda to investigate whether a clerical paedophile ring was operating in the archdiocese.
Dr Diarmuid Martin made the request to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations after he examined files on paedophile priests in recent years. He was disturbed by close connections between a number of clerics who were later convicted of child abuse, according to sources, and asked gardai to investigate.
The priests included Fr Bill |Carney and Fr Francis McCarthy, neither of whom are any longer in the priesthood, and Fr Patrick Maguire, a Columban priest who is living under the strict supervision of his order. The three are among 46 priests named in the damning report by Judge Yvonne Murphy which found “no direct evidence” of a paedophile ring, but found “worrying connections” between a number of priests.
Fr Carney and Fr McCarthy worked together to prey on vulnerable children, visiting them in children's homes and, in at least one instance, abused the same child. Fr Carney and Fr Maguire brought children on swimming excursions together. Fr Carney also claimed that Fr Maguire could vouch for him when he was under investigation for abusing some of those children.
Fr Dominic Savio Boland, whose real name is John Boland, called to the home of a child who had been abused by another priest, Fr Ioannes, and proceeded to abuse the child himself.
“There is nothing in the evidence available to the commission to show how Fr Boland became aware of this young boy,” the report said.
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Who is kidding who here? Martin is a smart guy but here the people can see what he is doing. Let call a spade a spade Martin. Just look at the guy before you of what he did and did not do.
Posted by phl | 30.11.09, 12:51 GMT
The deference to the Catholic church in the Republic of Ireland cannot and should not be underestimated. No other organisation would have been allowed to hide/move/protect child rapists and molesters in the way that the church did. Let's face it, they were allowed to do it.
Senior Gardai knew what was going on and turned a blind-eye to it. They left it up to the church to 'sort out' these despicable individuals. That is a horrific crime against young, defenceless children in the ROI. It is absolutely sickening and almost beyond belief.
The police KNEW that children were being raped and abused while in the 'care' of the Catholic church, instead of prosecuting the priests and protecting the kids, they let it continue. Why? Very simple, because it is the Roman Catholic church. Were these Gardai afraid of 'god'? Or afraid of the influence of the church?
Why did some people's belief in a 'god' allow for the rape and abuse of children for decades? It's very disturbing.
Posted by WH | 30.11.09, 12:44 GMT
Lets be honest there IS a paedophile ring operating!!!! The facts are that 98% of the victims of these perverts have been young boys!! The question is how many more are there out there????? Churchgoers should report anything they deem to be unusual activities regarding clergy to the police!
Posted by Mike Irvine | 30.11.09, 12:01 GMT
Cathloc church 'asks' Garda to investigate, is that how justice operates in the Republic?
Posted by Farrah | 30.11.09, 10:03 GMT
The sickening thing is even now the church say in their letter say that this was mis managed. Nothing about cover up or hiding or protecting the church. They still even today have not grasped this issue and the effect it has and will have on their people. Its time the people took the church back and away from these people. the cops should now beghind to arrest everyone involved in this from the top to the bottom.
Posted by Joe | 30.11.09, 08:47 GMT