Priest facing abuse allegations remains in parish house

A PRIEST in the diocese of Kilmore who stood aside from ministry when abuse allegations were made against him in September has remained in the parochial house against church and State guidelines on safeguarding children and against the wishes of his bishop.

Diocesan bishop Leo O’Reilly has offered the priest alternative accommodation in a number of locations. The diocese covers parishes in Cavan and parts of Leitrim, Fermanagh, Meath and Sligo. Bishop O’Reilly said he was aware “of my leadership responsibility to safeguard children in the diocese”. He added that he was determined to discharge those responsibilities fully.

In a statement on Saturday he said: “In doing so, and in responding to this case, children are placed first and I am committed to achieving justice for all concerned.” The bishop announced at Mass in the parish at the time that the priest had been asked to stand aside, and he informed the civil authorities.

The Association of Catholic Priests, of which the priest is a member, has criticised the practice of announcing publicly that a priest had been asked to stand aside and described it as “an abuse of the Eucharist”.

Fr Seán McDonagh of the association said it created major problems that a priest also had to leave his home. “If a garda, nurse or teacher has to stand down, they are not put out of their home where they live.”

He said a priest did not have the same family network, and moving them to a different end of a diocese where they had no connection created enormous problems.

Fr McDonagh said in general there was so much attention around the process that the presumption of innocence was lost.

Bishop O’Reilly said the diocese applied the standards of good practice in safeguarding children proposed by the latest church and State guidelines. “However, ongoing vigilance and co-operation throughout the diocese is required to make these guidelines work,” he added.

Dr O’Reilly invited “anybody who may have concerns in this regard to contact the child safeguarding designated person of the diocese, Suzie Duffy; An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive”.

Fr McDonagh said the association had sought to meet the hierarchy to discuss the guidelines.