Sir, – Fintan O’Toole repeats an allegation that John Charles McQuaid, whose reputation I have neither reason nor inclination to defend, sexually abused a young person in a pub in Drumcondra (“Time to revisit the role of John Charles McQuaid”, Opinion & Analysis, November 16th).
He acknowledges that he took this story from John Cooney’s book on McQuaid, who had admitted that he was not able to verify the allegation.
O’Toole also admits it is uncorroborated, and would not stand up in any legal process, but as an experienced journalist he must know that in the present context, and in the overall tone of the article, it is made to sound more credible.
One might describe this week’s column as scurrilous, or maybe opportunistic, in view of the terrible revelations about Spiritan schools, leaving the entire order totally exposed. – Yours, etc,
TONY FLANNERY,
Limerick.
Sir, – Fintan O Toole’s article is laced with unsubstantiated allegations and speculation and reaches conclusions based on his narrative.
The assertions O’Toole makes with regard to the late and notorious James McNamee are incorrect on two points.
McNamee was appointed the parish priest of Crumlin by the late Archbishop Dermot Ryan and not by John Charles McQuaid.
He also asserted that McNamee would visit the local school for boys, St Agnes’s primary, on Armagh Road.
Scoil Colm on the same road was in fact the school for boys. St Agnes’s school was until 2013 the local primary school for girls. – Yours, etc,
PAUL TYRRELL,
(Former parish priest,
St Agnes, Crumlin),
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.