The Catholic Church should give a clear statement that all records of clerical
sex abuse claims will not be destroyed, a spokesman for alleged victims today
said.
Colm O’Gorman, director of the group One in Four, was speaking in response to a
documentary which raised questions over the handling of allegations of child
sex abuse in the diocese of Raphoe, Co Donegal.
The BBC’s Spotlight programme reported the case of Father Eugene Greene, who
was jailed in 1998 for the abuse of children.
It said that despite complaints about Father Greene dating as far back as the
1970s, nothing was recorded on any Church files that could be passed on to
gardai.
The claims come in the wake of a recent programme broadcast on Irish
television, detailing claims of abuse within the Dublin archdiocese and its
handling by the Church.
Mr O’Gorman this morning said it was hard not to feel a sense of “here we are
again“.
He said his biggest concern was the lack of Church files on allegations the
programme said were made in the Raphoe diocese.
“For us this would make rubbish of the suggestion that the Church or indeed the
bishops are co-operating actively with Garda inquiries,” he said.
“The absence of files is damning I think, it’s very very worrying.
“I think what we need now is a clear statement from the Church and from the
bishops that all files that exist will remain in existence and that nothing has
been destroyed or will be destroyed.
“There is a real danger now that when we do actually get to the point of an
inquiry that files simply won’t exist anymore.”
Yesterday Bishop Philip Boyce, bishop of Raphoe, denied any prior knowledge of
abuse by Father Greene.
He said in a statement: “I wish to categorically state that I was not made
aware of child sexual allegations against Father Greene in 1995.
“I was ordained Bishop in October 1995. Some time later I was made aware of
rumours about Father Greene. Despite my personal inquiries, which included a
number of meetings, I was unable to identify any complaint of child sexual
abuse against him.
“I met with the parish priest and a school teacher but they were unable to
identify any specific complaint. I was unable to get any confirmation of what
substance lay behind these rumours.”
He said the harm and suffering caused by a priest of the diocese saddened him
profoundly.
Following allegations of abuse within the Dublin archdiocese, highlighted in a
programme shown on Irish television a few weeks ago, Justice Minister Michael
McDowell announced an independent investigation would take place.
After the screening of Prime Time there were calls for the resignation of
Cardinal Desmond Connell, the Archbishop of Dublin.