DAMIAN O'FARRELL,
Sir, - I wish to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to both Colm O'Gorman and Marie Collins, panel members on RTÉ Prime Time programme on Tuesday night, who both did such a wonderful job of representing people like myself who have been sexually abused by priests and/or religious. They have brought great credit on themselves and their families. Their spirit shines through and they have given hope to other people who have been abused.
To put my name at the bottom of this letter is for me a massive step which I hope I will not regret. I ask myself if friends and family will let me near their children; might they believe the common myth that the abused person always abuses in turn? It is only a short time ago that I stopped feeling grateful to my wife for letting me mind my own two children.
I have met many very good religious, to whom I would have no hesitation in entrusting my children. These religious and the many victims of abuse have been grossly misrepresented and betrayed by their ecclesiastical leaders. I would also like to put it on record that, as a very young boy sexually abused by a Christian Brother who was subsequently convicted, the only help I received to achieve this conviction as an adult was from gardaí.
Anyway, I'm very proud to sign my name to this letter and stand beside Colm and Marie. I'm only sorry I hadn't the courage before now. - Yours, etc.,
DAMIAN O'FARRELL,
Griffith Court,
Marino,
Dublin 3.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Sir, - In light of the resignation of Bishop Comiskey, is it not now time that Cardinal Connell considered his position given his role in aiding Ivan Payne in his attempts to avoid prosecution? - Yours, etc.,
MARTIN LOUGHNAN,
The Maltings,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Sir, - In common with all decent people, I am horrified at the behaviour of the Catholic and Apostolic Church in its attempts to protect its own interests at the expense of innocent children. Loathsome as the pederasts are, my true disgust is reserved for the Hierarchy of the Church, whose actions in moving offending priests and disguising their foul behaviour ensured that these monsters abused the maximum number of victims. - Yours, etc.,
DON NEWMAN,
Williamstown,
Rathvilly,
Co Carlow.