Fr Iota was accused of sexual abuse of Pamela in May 2005. It then emerged that a complaint against Fr Iota had been known by the diocese since the early 1970s.
Pamela said she met Fr Iota in the early 1970s when she was 13/14 years of age and he was chaplain of her local youth club. He was in his late 20s and an abusive relationship developed.
At the time Pamela reported it to Fr Kappa, then a local curate. After the abusive relationship ended, Pamela attempted suicide.When her GP reported her complaint to the bishop, following her attempted suicide, Bishop Herlihy wrote asking a "favour" of Cardinal Heenan of the Diocese of Westminster.
Fr Iota was then moved to a parish in England, but subsequently returned to the Diocese of Ferns where he served throughout the 1980s. Fr Iota has admitted a sexual relationship with Pamela when she was 17 and a friendship with her from 13 years of age, and has agreed to attend for assessment.
The inquiry noted that Bishop Herlihy's responsibility for the children of the diocese ought to have ensured Fr Iota had minimum contact with children. Instead he was appointed to teaching and chaplaincy roles in national schools in the diocese.