The Bishop of Kerry, Dr Murphy, has said that should Bishop Eamonn Casey wish to serve as a priest in a parish there he would first have to apologise to his proposed parishioners. Dr Casey was Bishop of Kerry at the time of his affair with Ms Annie Murphy.
However, on May 11th ,1992, six days after he resigned as Bishop of Galway, Dr Casey asked forgiveness for having "sinned grievously" against the clergy and people of the dioceses of Galway and Kerry.
In a statement issued through Dr James McLoughlin, the then administrator of the diocese of Galway and now its bishop, Dr Casey acknowledged "that I have grievously wronged Peter and his mother Annie Murphy. I have also sinned grievously against God, His church and the clergy and people of the dioceses of Galway and Kerry." He continued that "I have confessed my sins to God and I have asked His forgiveness, as I ask yours."
According to an RTE report yesterday Dr Murphy said he would want a low-key apology from Dr Casey to parishioners he proposed to work with. Such a ceremony of reconciliation would be closed to the media. It would then be up to Dr Casey himself whether he wished to apologise to the wider church, he said.
Dr Casey also expressed sorrow in a Sunday Tribune interview with the late Veronica Guerin in November 1993. He said "I regret deeply the hurt I have caused to so many people, especially Annie and Peter." Asked whether he was happy, he replied: "Well yes I am, obviously there are things that I need. For instance, I want to be able to go home a free person."
Dr Casey remains a priest of the diocese of Galway and within church circles it is thought most likely he would serve there once the way is clear for him to return to work in Ireland. This is now seen as primarily dependent on when hearings in two libel actions are completed. He could be subpoenaed to appear as a witness in either should be in the jurisdiction once dates have been set.
One involves author Gordon Thomas and the Sunday In- dependent while the other arises from an action being taken by Ms Dympna Kilbane, a former flatmate of Ms Annie Murphy. Due to these cases, it now appears probable that Dr Casey will be unable to take up a position in Ireland, should it be made available, before the end of this year.
