The Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty last night sympathised with victims of Donegal paedophile priest Father Eugene Greene over the hurt they suffered.
He responded following an radio interview where one of Father Greene's victims expressed annoyance that the Bishops failed to contact Greene's victims and apologise to them.
Paul Breslin (36), from Gortahork, West Donegal who now lives in London was one of Father Greene's victims who participated in the recent BBC Spotlight documentary about Father Greene's 30 years reign of terror. He was abused by the cleric on numerous occasions between the ages of 10 and 12 years.
Greene is now serving a 12-year sentence in the Curragh Prison following his conviction in April 2000 for the horrific abuse of 26 boys between 1965 and 1982. Last year he sought a reduction in his sentence citing his alcoholic problem as a cause for the abuse but his appeal was turned down.
Last night Bishop Hegarty, who was Greene's Bishop in the dioceses of Raphoe, responded to Paul Breslin's claims that no one within the church had ever apologised to him. Mr Breslin expressed hurt that neither Bishop Hegarty nor the current Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce thought it worth their while to contact him after the Spotlight documentary where he detailed the horrific abuse.
In an interview with Raidio na Gaeltachta yesterday, Mr Breslin said he was annoyed and hurt by their silence. He said that the dioceses knew about Father Greene's crimes and does not believe files relating to his activities do not exist. He was shifted from parish to parish allowing him to find new victims and continue abusing.
"I've had lots of messages of support since the BBC documentary from people everywhere but not a word from either of the Bishops. I even had letters from two priests who had nothing to do with it. Why can't the Bishops do this. Dr Hegarty was my school principal in Falcarragh and he knows my family and can easily get in touch with me like others have. He knew all about it. Maybe they feel it will be an admission of guilt on their behalf. Maybe they thinks it's all in the past now but it's not. I would like an apology, even just a few lines," he said.
Mr Breslin also said he felt it unbelievable that Bishop Boyce has confirmed that four further priests from the dioceses are under investigation and that three of these are still serving. Responding last night to the radio programme and Mr Breslin's comments, Bishop Hegarty told Raidio na Gaeltachta news that he never knew of Father Greene's crimes during his term. He admitted more could have been done by the dioceses in contacting the victims. "I'm sorry that children were abused in dioceses during my time there. On reflection I understand that it was a mistake that neither myself nor others didn't personally contact Paul Breslin. He was in London and it was difficult to contact him but on reflection I should have contacted him".
An interview with Bishop Hegarty will be broadcast on Raidio na Gaeltachta's Barrscealta programme at 11 a.m. today.