A Catholic diocese in Northern Ireland is to scrap a controversial levy in support of a fund for clerical sex abuse victims, it emerged tonight.
Bishop Seamus Hegarty caused outrage over his decision to charge parishioners without many of them knowing. A three per cent levy had been put on parishes in the diocese of Derry as part of the church's arrangement to pay for any cases.
Even though Dr Hegarty expressed his sincere regret over the affair, the controversy has raged all week. Priests held an emergency meeting in Derry today without the bishop being invited in a bid to resolve the issue.
Afterwards spokesman Monsignor Joseph Donnelly confirmed: "The bishops and priests of Derry diocese have decided to abolish the three per cent levy on parishes for the Stewardship Fund and return to the parishes all monies that have already been paid."