More details emerge of sexual abuse cases involving priests

The Diocese of Ossory has paid €370,000 in compensation to the victims of child sexual abuse, it was revealed last night.

The diocese, which covers Co Kilkenny and parts of Co Laois and Co Offaly, said that the money had been paid to six victims of child sexual abuse.

It said that six priests in the diocese had had allegations of child sexual abuse made against them. However, the diocese said that none of those priests was currently still in ministry.

It said that one priest from the Diocese of Ossory had been convicted by the courts in relation to child sexual abuse.

It emerged yesterday that 27 priests in the Archdiocese of Tuam, which covers part of Co Galway and Co Mayo, had had allegations of child abuse made against them. One of these cases dated back to the 1940s.

The archdiocese said that seven civil actions had been settled at a cost of €327,000.

Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam said that eight of the priests against whom allegations of abuse had been made had stood aside from ministry.

Four priests had been the subject of criminal charges and three had been convicted.

Archbishop Neary emphasised that no priest currently serving in the Archdiocese of Tuam was being investigated over abuse allegations.The figures released by dioceses over the weekend indicate that the number of priests throughout the State against whom allegations of abuse have been made over the years now stands at more than 290.