The following statement was issued yesterday by the Office of the President of Maynooth College on behalf of the Trustees:
Monsignor Mícheál Ledwith, who had been President of Maynooth College from 1985, retired from the post in June 1994, stating that this would facilitate the Trustees in the appointment of a head of the anticipated new Civil University, having regard to the fact that new legislation was imminent.
This would have the effect of dividing the then College of Maynooth into two separate institutions, i.e. the Pontifical University and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Monsignor Ledwith was appointed to a personal professorship on his retirement (June 1994) and then granted two years' leave of absence under an existing scheme at the College.
In 1994, prior to his retirement from the Presidency, an allegation pertaining to sexual abuse of a minor was made against Monsignor Ledwith. He was informed of the allegation and denied it strenuously. The allegation was made known by his Bishop to both the Gardaí and relevant Health Board.
Notwithstanding his denial, the Trustees, in accordance with the statutes of the College, initiated a process of investigation to lead to a Tribunal of Inquiry. During the process, Monsignor Ledwith, through his legal team, continued to deny the allegation.
In the process, it was indicated that Monsignor Ledwith had decided, on the basis of his own legal advice, to enter into settlement discussions with the complainant, while still categorically denying the allegation. He made a private settlement with the claimant in late 1995, without admission of any liability. The settlement was funded entirely by Monsignor Ledwith and without any assistance whatsoever from the Church or the College.
His settlement agreement included a confidentiality clause. The Church and the College were not involved in any way and had nothing whatsoever to do with this agreement.
The insertion of such a clause in this private settlement, however, had the effect of impeding the process from the Trustees' viewpoint, in that the vital evidence of the complainant would not then be available due to the confidentiality agreement. Nevertheless, the Trustees continued to pursue the process.
Ultimately, Monsignor Ledwith offered his retirement from the personal professorship with effect from 1st October 1996, on the basis that he receive an appropriate pension. He was a member of the St Patrick's College, Maynooth pension fund and on his retirement was entitled to benefits in accordance with the rules of the fund, which was administered by Irish Pensions Trust, now Mercer.
The Trustees accepted the retirement and resignation of Monsignor Ledwith and arranged a capital payment of IR£77,030 to Irish Pensions Trust so as to provide him with an annual index-linked pension. This capital payment was funded by way of contributions from every Diocese. He was also paid a retirement gratuity of a sum amounting to six months' salary from the College, to be paid in accordance with such arrangements as might be approved by the Tax Authorities. The Trustees were obliged to take into account that his retirement involved giving up his post, his residence and right to reside in the College and all rights and offices in the College as from 1st October 1996.
In mid-2000 the Trustees were informed of another allegation by solicitors on behalf of a former student of the College between 1992 and 1994. Monsignor Ledwith vehemently denied the allegation and stated that he was not in the country at the time to which it related. The College fully assisted the Gardaí in their investigation.
Since his retirement, Monsignor Ledwith had taken up residence in the USA, and at the time of his departure his Bishop contacted the Bishop of the diocese in which he planned to reside and made him aware of the allegation.
This communication was repeated in 2000 when it was learned that the Bishop who received the initial correspondence had died.