A VICTIM of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest in Monageer, Co Wexford, has called for a Garda report on the force's failure to properly investigate the matter to be made public.

Ms Fiona Gahan (21) said she was "appalled and disgusted" by a statement issued by the Garda Commissioner last night. The statement said the Garda investigation was "inadequate" but added "the matter cannot now be, put any further". It said local gardai who investigated the case were not at fault.

A health board report on the case confirmed that the abuse took place. The allegations were made in 1988 against Father Jim Grennan, then parish priest in Monageer. Father Grennan died in 1994.

Schoolgirls aged 11 and 12 said he fondled them on the altar of the local church, touching them one at a time while telling the others to close their eyes. The Garda investigation was not concluded, and no charges were brought against the priest. The original Garda file on the abuse investigation is believed to be missing.

Ms Gahan said she and two former classmates has been interviewed as part of the investigation. "We were assured that we would find out exactly what happened to that file and that people would be made accountable," she said.

She said it was very painful for herself and her family and they had hoped it could haven been resolved with this Garda inquiry. "But we are no better off now. It was bad enough when this happened, but it keeps coming back. How could the statements go missing like this? I am disgusted and appalled at the way it has been handled," she said. The statement released yesterday said:

"A senior Garda officer has conducted a review into the Garda investigation of allegations of child abuse in Monagear, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford in 1988.

"The review shows

- that the investigation was inadequate and not brought to a satisfactory conclusion,

- that the South Eastern Health Board complied fully with its obligations,

- that no evidence was forthcoming of any collusion between any organisation and the Garda, Siochana to stifle, obstruct or abandon the investigation, and

- that no fault lies with the local gardai based at Ferns.

Regretfully, as the person who, was the subject of the complaint has since died, the matter can not now be put any further."

Mr Jim Reynolds, who was Garda sergeant in Ferns at the time and who is retired, said last night: "I am pleased that I have been cleared. It was disturbing that people might have felt we did not do our job".

Mr Vincent Smyth, also retired, who was a Superintendent in Enniscorthy at the time, said: "I don't think I want to comment at all. We've had a lot if this before and I've nothing to say."

Mr Jim Doyle, also retired, who was chief superintendent in charge of the Wexford division ate the time, said: "I take it the inquiry is finished, and so it's finished as far as I'm concerned, too. I would accept the findings."

The South Eastern Health Board said it welcomed the confirmation that the board "complied fully with its obligations and there was no evidence fort coming of any collusion between any organisation and the Garda Siochana to stifle, obstruct or abandon the investigation."