A spokesman for the Dublin Archdiocese last night confirmed that people in his vicinity were heard to comment critically as Cardinal Connell spoke in the Pro-Cathedral at Mass on Saturday evening.
The Cardinal had been presiding at the Mass, celebrated by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazarotto, held to mark the 24th anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul II. Among the large attendance was the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and members of the diplomatic corps.
When the Mass ended on Saturday night, Cardinal Connell said a few words acknowledging "the incalculable harm" caused to victims of clerical child sex abuse. Some people towards the back of the Cathedral were heard saying "it's too late".
But there was no heckling heard by this reporter at the back of the cathedral. The Irish Times photographer Matt Kavanagh heard nothing as he was taking pictures of the Cardinal while he spoke.
Nor was there heckling afterwards, as the Cardinal and Nuncio greeted the congregation as they left. One well-known and ostentatiously devout lady protested to both prelates loudly, as is her wont on such occasions, about the abuse of her Catholic sons being sent to a Protestant school.
In his brief address, Cardinal Connell intimated his intention to remain on as Archbishop of Dublin. He told the congregation: "I promise you, I will continue to work to ensure that the protection of children is an absolute priority for this diocese." He also said he had failed abuse victims.
He began by speaking of the "very great joy" it was for him to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Pope John Paul and how he had sent the pontiff a message of congratulations on behalf of the priests and people of the archdiocese, and on his own behalf.
He continued "so many of you have been in touch to tell me of your shock, hurt and anger as a result of what we have seen and heard over the past few days. I realise that words cannot hope to meet your needs at this time, particularly the needs of those people who have been so grievously abused by priests of this diocese.
"I want to acknowledge as clearly as I can that, in such abuse, we are face to face with a dreadful evil. Incalculable harm has been caused to those who were abused. Further hurt has been undoubtedly caused by the fact that, having approached the Church expecting a sympathetic response, we did not effectively deal with the trauma nor meet their needs. We failed them, I failed them, and there are no excuses for this failure.
"I promise you, I will continue to work to ensure that the protection of children is an absolute priority for this diocese.
"I again wish to assure you that I will afford every co-operation and assistance to Judge Gillian Hussey and her team of independent experts in their work of establishing the truth about this dreadful evil that has been inflicted on so many people in this diocese.
"Please pray for me at this time that I may do what is right before God and before you."
"I think of the faithful priests of this diocese. I think of the faithful people of this diocese. Above all (I think) of the victims who have spoken out and who have remained silent. I invite them to come and meet me," he concluded.
His words were followed by sustained applause. Then he and other clergy present, including the Archbishop of Cashel, Dr Dermot Clifford, proceeded down the aisle, with the Nuncio and Cardinal continuing to the main door where they greeted people as they left.
Afterwards Cardinal Connell told The Irish Times it was "too soon" for him to comment on the possibility of a State investigation into the handling of clerical child sex abuse in the archdiocese.