Ferns diocese may sell property to pay claims

The Diocese of Ferns is considering selling off church property in Co Wexford following a series of child sexual abuse claims which have almost exhausted its funds.

Costs and claims for 17 child sex abuse cases have amounted to €2.79 million. However, the diocese is expecting further claims .

The Bishop of Ferns, the Most Rev Eamonn Walsh, told an annual meeting regarding the diocese's finances last week that insurance had paid for around 90 per cent of all claims and legal costs.

The diocese directly paid almost €200,000 from its own funds, but these were now almost exhausted.

He said none of this money had come from the weekly church collections.

Fresh funds released from selling church property would also be used to continue providing money for child protection measures in the diocese, he said.

These measures include providing treatment of offenders and those alleged to have offended. Such treatment has cost the diocese €143,283 since April 2002.

This has also been paid from money the diocese had at its disposal, along with borrowings and contributions from those accused, Bishop Walsh said.

"Retention of fixed assets will not get in the way of finding lasting solutions. Those who have been damaged deserve our first attention.

Those who have caused damage need treatment, otherwise they represent an increased danger - and one more child hurt, is one too many," Bishop Walsh told parishioners over the weekend.

"Undoing the wrongs and hurt of the past by whatever means are available to us remains and will continue to be our number one priority in the diocese," he said.

The Bishop's secretary, Rev John Carroll, told The Irish Times that an audit of fixed assets was being conducted in the diocese.

He said a decision had yet to be taken on what land or property would be sold off, but that "signs were pointing clearly in the direction" of the disposal of fixed assets.

Rev Carroll said he did not know how many child sex abuse cases were outstanding against the diocese, or what the likely cost of such cases could be.