The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has declined to pay for a Supreme Court appeal by the parents of the 13-year-old rape victim, who seems increasingly likely to travel to Britain for an abortion. The girl's father, who wants to appeal last Friday's High Court decision allowing her to travel, yesterday asked the Catholic Church to fund it.
In a statement last night, the Dublin diocese said Dr Connell had learned of the father's request when it was put to him by RTE yesterday.
"Dr Connell has given consideration to the matter, in accordance with what he said in his interview with RTE. He has also taken legal advice, and after careful consideration he has decided he does not find himself in a position to provide financial assistance for an appeal of this case to the Supreme Court," the statement said.
Earlier, Dr Connell had told RTE he would "always consider any request that is put to me by a member of my own flock".
Meanwhile, a planned access visit to the girl by her parents was abandoned yesterday. Sources say the parents arrived for the visit with a doctor and several other people, asking that all of them see the girl without a social worker present.
This was refused and the visit did not go ahead.
The Eastern Health Board will seek legal advice today on whether the girl is free to travel to England for an abortion.
On Friday the High Court rejected an appeal by the girl's parents against a decision of the Children's Court allowing her to go to Britain for an abortion. The previous day, all parties had agreed with the Chief Justice that if they wished to appeal the High Court decision they would lodge papers by 4 p.m. on Friday.
The Chief Justice agreed to a Supreme Court sitting at noon today to hear an appeal, but no papers were lodged.
The EHB had hoped to be able to make arrangements for the girl on hearing today that there would be no appeal. But the girl's father raised that possibility again yesterday when he told RTE he was "pretty certain" there would be an appeal.
Sources of funding available to the family were unclear yesterday. Youth Defence, which has helped with legal costs, said its support would continue but it hoped there were other sources.
The EHB yesterday was criticised for insisting that a social worker should supervise relatives' access visits to the girl. Youth Defence claimed the girl was under "house arrest".
But the EHB strongly denied claims that it had discouraged access. "We categorically refute any allegation that we have in any way prevented, discouraged or denied access by the parents to their child," it said.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Cowen, will bring proposals to the Cabinet tomorrow to establish a working group to frame a Green Paper on abortion. Government sources suggested last night that the working group would include civil servants and outside specialists.