The responsibility for [paedophile priest Brendan Smyth’s] behaviour rested with his religious superior at Kilnacrott [the Norbertine Order’s abbey] . . . I did act and act effectively . . .
– Cardinal Brady’s initial response on Sunday to the revelation that as a priest in 1975, he interviewed two children who were abused by Smyth, swore the children to secrecy and did not report Smyth to the Garda
I apologise to those who were abused by Brendan Smyth after 1975. – Cardinal Brady on Monday
Fr Brady had no obligation under statute law or under the common law of misprision to report these matters to the gardaí. – Msgr Maurice Dooley asserting on Monday that the cardinal had "no obligation whatsoever" to report Smyth to the Garda
The views expressed . . . by Msgr Maurice Dooley . . . are his own personal views . . . Such views do not represent the policy or the practice of the Catholic Church in Ireland today concerning the reporting of allegations of abuse to the civil authorities, North and South. The policy . . . is to report all allegations to the statutory authorities.
As a consequence, I have spoken to Msgr Dooley today and he assures me that he will not be speaking again in this controversy. – Archbishop Dermot Clifford, on Thursday