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The Garda Commissioner has ordered a full investigation into the handling by Church and State authorities of child sex abuse allegations folowing yesterday's report on the Archdiocese of Dublin.

The Commission of Investigation report concluded that there is “no doubt” that clerical child sexual abuse was covered up by the archdiocese and other Church authorities.

It also found that “the State authorities facilitated the cover-up by not fulfilling their responsibilities to ensure that the law was applied equally to all and allowing the Church institutions to be beyond the reach of the normal law enforcement processes”.

Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said he had asked Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahoney to review the findings of the report in relation to how the complaints were handled, carry out investigations and inquiries as appropriate and present his recommendations.

"I will then consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions as to what issues arise in the context of criminal liability,” Mr Murphy said.

"The commission has identified failings on the part of both Church and State authorities in their response to complaints of child sexual abuse. The focus of this examination will be to establish whether those failings amounted to criminal behaviour."