Criminal charges will not be brought against a Tuam priest who stepped down last year after it emerged gardaí were investigating an allegation of rape against him.
The Irish Times has learned that, following the completion of the Garda investigation, a file on the matter was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who has decided that no prosecution will be pursued.
The DPP has a policy of not commenting on the reasons for his decisions.
Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam in November asked a priest of the archdiocese who was at the centre of the rape allegation to stand down from ministry.
Dr Neary was unavailable for comment last night. Calls to the archbishop's house in Tuam went unanswered.
A spokesman working for the Catholic Communications Office said Dr Neary was aware of the DPP's decision, and he would make a statement on the matter in due course.
It is not known if the priest will be reinstated now that the investigation has been discontinued. The spokesman said this would be clarified shortly.
In a statement when the Garda investigation came to light three months ago, Dr Neary said the priest at the centre of the allegations had agreed "to stand aside from his ministry in order to remove the shadow of suspicion from other priests of the diocese".
In November Dr Neary said the claims being made were allegations that had not been proven true or false. He and the church wanted to see the matter fully investigated by gardaí.
He added that the case was "not a child protection matter".
The archdiocese had been aware for some time of allegations that he raped a young woman 15 years ago, and that these were being investigated by gardaí. However, he was asked to step down only after reports on the investigation appeared in the media.
It is understood the woman alleged she was raped twice by the priest when she went to him in 1990 for help after she became pregnant. She was then 24.
On child sexual abuse allegations, the archbishop said he "would welcome any external audit of my management of child sexual abuse allegations in this diocese".
He acknowledged that "tragically, there have been significant instances of such abuse in this archdiocese. I have apologised to those who have suffered in this way, and do so again today."
He believed that he and those working in the archdiocese on his behalf had responded to every complaint in accordance with best practice, and would continue to do so as the need arises."
An independent review of all sexual abuse complaints received by the archdiocese was conducted in 2004 by Dr Kevin McCoy, a member of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.
The review concluded the complaints were "managed very well and in accordance with the norms and guidance applicable at the time, and that there is a consistent approach adopted to these very difficult situations".
