Gardaí and health board officials are investigating allegations of child sexual abuse which have been made against an elderly priest in the west.
The allegations have been levelled against a priest aged about 80 in the diocese of Clonfert.
The allegation was first reported to the Catholic Church which then informed the Health Service Executive's Western Area Health Board and gardaí.
Following inquiries yesterday from The Irish Times, Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert confirmed that there had been allegations against a retired priest who had recently been based in the diocese.
In a statement, he said a retired priest belonging to a foreign diocese and who formerly served in Clonfert was under investigation over an allegation of child sexual abuse. The statement continued:
"The allegation, which has only very recently come to light, relates to the 1970s before the priest came to work in Clonfert. The priest is currently under full-time medical supervision. On being advised of this allegation, the church authorities immediately informed the gardaí and the Health Service Executive and the allegation is being investigated.
"Following a meeting of the Clonfert child protection committee and in accordance with diocesan procedures and the church's child protection policy the priest, who is no longer parochially involved, has stood aside from the public celebration of the Eucharist."
Dr Kirby added: "I wish to state that the making of an appropriate response to all aspects of complaints of child sexual abuse has been and is an absolute priority for me as bishop.
"The diocese of Clonfert is fully committed to the protection of children and I invite anybody in the diocese who may have concerns regarding the protection of children to bring these concerns to my attention."
The Irish Times has established that the allegation against the elderly former curate relate to incidents which are alleged to have taken place in the diocese of Killaloe, which includes portions of Clare, Laois, Limerick, Offaly and Tipperary. The priest is currently receiving care at a psychiatric facility in Dublin.
The statement released by Dr Kirby last night did not disclose the foreign parish to which the priest was attached. It is understood that he has not worked abroad for many years and that most of the time he spent overseas was at the beginning of his career.
The retired priest would have said Mass at three churches in the diocese. He also served for a time as a hospital chaplain in the west in the 1980s. He has been a curate in at least five parishes in the west and southwest in the last 20 years but has never served as a parish priest.
