Mother says bishop did nothing

A Wexford woman tells Alison O'Connor of her anger towards Bishop Brendan Comiskey, who 'knew everything' about Seán Fortune

A Wexford woman tells Alison O'Connor of her anger towards Bishop Brendan Comiskey, who 'knew everything' about Seán Fortune

The Bishop of Ferns should be "drummed out" of his position, according to a woman who believes her son's suicide was linked to paedophile cleric Seán Fortune. Father Fortune had been a priest in the Diocese of Ferns.

Ms Monica Fitzpatrick, from Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford, whose son Peter shot himself in July 1988, also said she did not want Dr Brendan Comiskey to confirm two of her grandchildren. The ceremony is due to take place next month.

"I will be going to the Confirmation and I just don't want him there. I don't want him near the children . . . He should have taken him [Father Fortune] out of circulation. There is no point in him talking about apologising now. It's too late," she told The Irish Times yesterday.

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Father Fortune was a priest in the curacy of Poulfour in Fethard-on-Sea from 1981 to 1987. Before his appointment there, Bishop Donal Herlihy, Dr Comiskey's predecessor, had received complaints concerning the sexual abuse of young boys.

Almost immediately on his arrival in the diocese in 1984, Dr Comiskey began to receive complaints about Father Fortune.

These did not just concern sexual abuse but also bullying; doubts over the financial administration of FÁS schemes; curses being put on children; teenagers being shown unsuitable videos, and large sums of money being sought to administer sacraments or to "heal" people.

Two years ago when Ms Fitzpatrick's other grandson was being confirmed, she asked her daughter Josephine to ensure no photograph was taken of the child with Dr Comiskey.

"I think he should be drummed out of it and shouldn't be given the chance to resign. He knew everything that was going on because he was told."

Ms Fitzpatrick said she had no tolerance of the explanation given that Dr Comiskey was unable to cope with Father Fortune because of his alcoholism.

"To me that's just a cover up. He was the one with the power to do something about Father Fortune but he did nothing. I know that some people say that Fortune is dead and that he should be let lie but the bishop has to answer these questions.

"Children are still suffering. For the boys who were abused, he should be made answer for what went on."

She and her husband John have three other children, two boys and a girl. Peter, who was the eldest, was 23 when he shot himself. He had been involved with youth groups run by Father Fortune and went away on group retreats led by the priest, including one to Maynooth.

"He was full of life and very healthy. He had girlfriends that came and went and he was a very kind boy. But Fortune had a way of manipulating people. Peter was quite open and would talk about everything, but when you would ask him about that he wouldn't talk much about it.

"Fortune preyed on the young people and the old people. When you had thoughts about what he was up to, you would pray to God to take them away. You would feel there was something wrong with you because he was a priest."