A protest march planned for next Sunday to Archbishop's House in Dublin by victims of child sexual abuse has been cancelled and calls by victims for the resignation of Cardinal Desmond Connell as Archbishop of Dublin have been withdrawn, writes Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent.
The archdiocese stated that it was "co-operating fully" with the gardaí in their investigations and that the Cardinal had agreed to give gardaí access to the diocesan files concerning complaints of child sexual abuse against diocesan priests.
It has also been agreed that victims are to be actively involved in helping the archdiocese deal with problems arising from such abuse.
These decisions were announced after a meeting at Archbishop's House in Dublin yesterday.
It began at 11 a.m. and continued until nearly 4.15 p.m., when a brief press conference took place in the grounds.
In attendance was Cardinal Connell, Bishop Eamonn Walsh, who is Apostolic Administrator to Ferns diocese and an Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Mrs Marie Collins, who was abused by Father Paul McGennis, and Mr Ken Reilly, who was abused by Father Tony Walsh.
The meeting was agreed following Mr Reilly's announcement on December 22nd that he and Mrs Collins were organising a protest march on Archbishop's House for January 5th, during which a letter was to be handed in at Drumcondra calling for the Cardinal's resignation.
At Cardinal Connell's behest, Mr Reilly and Mrs Collins were approached about such a meeting by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Mgr John Dolan, and Bishop Walsh.
In a joint statement following the meeting yesterday it was disclosed that Cardinal Connell has invited both Mr Reilly and Mrs Collins to meet Mr David Kennedy, chairman of the archdiocese's independent advisory panel, who is currently involved in establishing a Child Protection Service.
The Cardinal said this was one of the more important results of yesterday's meeting as it would involve both "Marie and Ken in the development of the Child Protection Service" which is to start early in the new year. During the meeting the Cardinal repeated an assurance "that no priest who had sexually abused a child should be trusted again in any parish or ministry involving children" .
He also said that a statement issued yesterday by the archdiocese about co-operation with gardaí, while it was discussed at the meeting, had been prepared for release beforehand.
"It is understood that the gardaí will commence reading the files in early January," the statement said.
At yesterday's press conference Mrs Collins made it clear that this meant gardaí would have access to all such files but that if matters were to be then taken further, victims would be consulted first as to whether they wanted this.
Cardinal Connell explained yesterday that he would be in Rome next weekend to attend the episcopal ordination of a friend.
He would also be meeting senior Curia figures, but did not know whether the issue of clerical child sex abuse in Ireland would be raised or the matter of his resignation.
Since March 2000, when he was 75, his letter of resignation has been with the Congregation of Bishops in the Vatican, as per routine.
He had "no idea" whether it would be raised by the Prefect of that Congregation when he visited Rome.
Both Mr Reilly and Mrs Collins were very positive about yesterday's meeting. It had been "very open" according to Mr Reilly.
"The Cardinal had explained his position and what the diocese was doing." He had also "asked for our help. Today was the start of a process. We are looking to the future", he said.
Mrs Collins felt the Cardinal had "moved a great deal" in the six years since her previous meeting with him. She no longer believed there was a need for him to resign.