THE REPORT of the Commission of Investigation – Dublin Archdiocese has been referred to Attorney General Paul Gallagher for advice on the question of making it publicly available.
It had been delivered yesterday to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern. The Minister said he was anxious that the matters it dealt with were “put into the public domain as quickly as possible”. He was “concerned” that nothing should be done which would harm the prospects of the perpetrators of abuse being brought “to the justice they deserve”.
This was a reference to cases before the criminal courts involving three men investigated by the commission. The law under which the commission was set up provides that if the Minister considers that publication of a report might prejudice criminal proceedings, pending or in progress, he must apply to the High Court for directions concerning publication.
If the court decides that publication might prejudice criminal proceedings it can direct that the report, or a specified part of it, not be published.
It was in this context that Mr Ahern referred the report to the Attorney General. He has also forwarded a copy to Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews.
The Minister thanked Judge Yvonne Murphy, chair of the commission, and her staff.
Meanwhile, Fr Joe Mullan, chair of the Council of Priests of the Dublin Archdiocese, has challenged reports that Dublin priests were not happy with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s approach to the clerical child abuse scandal.
The council of priests is an advisory body to Dr Martin. Its membership is elected by priests of the Archdiocese with some appointed by the Archbishop.
“The priests are delighted to have such a clear-thinking, courageous bishop in charge,” Fr Mullan said. “The process that he has followed in preparing for the report has been robust and challenging and while difficult in parts for priests, it has their assent and co-operation.”
He said “individual priests may have personal issues with the Archbishop, but as a body we are firmly behind him”.
Dr Martin’s approach was “radical and victim-centred”, he said, whereas in the past there may have been more emphasis on justice for accused priests. He agreed this new approach meant “some priests were a bit unsettled as it is so radical. Not that they are against it”.
Fr Mullan also challenged those who would doubt Cardinal Connell’s bona fides in going to the High Court last year to prevent documents he considered confidential being given to the commission. He later withdrew the action.
Fr Mullan believed the Cardinal was the sort of man who, when he gave his word, adhered to it.
** Connect, the National Adults Counselling Service, has announced a new free telephone number in anticipation of publication of the Dublin report. It is freephone 1800-477477 in the Republic and 00800-47747777 from Northern Ireland. The free counselling service is available to abuse victims from 6pm to 10pm,Wednesday to Sunday.
