Catholic Bishops began a three-day conference in Maynooth today to discuss the establishment of an independent audit of clerical child abuse.
The audit was promised two months ago after the then Bishop of Ferns Dr Brendan Comiskey resigned over his handling of allegations of sexual abuse against Father Brendan Fortune was criticised.
Yesterday Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Ferns, apologised directly to the people of Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford for the abuse perpetrated by Father Fortune during his time as a curate there between 1981 and 1987.
It remains unclear if the 26 diocesans Bishops have finalised the terms of reference of the audit or if any investigators have been appointed. Arriving at the Maynooth conference, the Primate of Ireland, Father Seán Brady, told reporters he was not certain whether a statement to media would be made.
Earlier the President of Maynooth Seminary , Monsignor Dermot Farrell, told RTÉ he thought the college would benefit from an inquiry into how it handled complaints about the behaviour of former President Monsigor Ledwith.
Recently it emerged Monsignor Ledwith stepped down eight years ago shortly before the end of his tenure after being accused of abusing a minor. He is later known to have made an out of court settlement with the person in question.
