Seven members have been appointed to the independent commission tasked with investigating allegations of child sex abuse in the Catholic Church.
Judge Gillian Hussey was appointed by the Irish Bishops' Conference, the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI), and the Irish Missionary Union (IMU) in June to head up the independent Catholic Church Commission on Child Sex Abuse.
Today she announced the seven-member board, which will begin its work after it finalises its terms of reference and works out "logistic and legal implications". Work on establishing the structure of the Commission and arrangements for staff and premises is close to completion.
Former Fine Gael TD and Senator, Mr Maurice Manning; Mr John McGroarty, a former Garda Detective Superintendent and Mr Michael Cush, Senior Counsel, are among the appointees.
Ms Rosaleen McElvaney, a clinical psychologist at Temple Street Childrens' Hospital in Dublin and Dr Ian O'Donnell, from the Institute of Criminology, will be joined by Ms Suzanne Phelan, a child care manager in Community Care at the Northern Area Health Board and social worker Mr Robert Bunting.
Under the Commissions' terms of reference, the bishop of every diocese and superior of every religious congregation will be asked to account for every complaint of sexual abuse and the action taken.
The Commission has been tasked to make an interim report by February 3rd 2003 with its final report, with recommendations, due by 29th February 2004. It also has the power to change to its terms of reference.
Judge Hussey today said: "I am satisfied that we have a Commission with a wealth of relevant experience and relevant expertise. I thank the members for agreeing to join me on the Commission and I look forward to working with them in carrying out this important task as thoroughly and as quickly as possible."