The child abuse allegation, which has led to former Bishop of Galway Dr Eamon Casey standing aside from active ministry in an English parish, was made by a woman now living in the UK who has made similar unproven allegations against others in the past.
It is also understood she has endured bouts of ill-health over recent years.
The middle-aged woman, who is believed to have known Dr Casey most of her life, made the allegation for the first time last week concerning an incident she claimed took place over three decades ago in Ireland.
Her allegation was conveyed to a person in the south of Ireland who had been designated to deal with such claims. The child protection office in the southern English Catholic diocese of Arundel and Brighton, where Dr Casey has been serving as a curate, was contacted immediately and Dr Casey was informed.
In accordance with the diocese's Safe and Sound child protection guidelines, on the receipt of such an allegation he was asked to step aside from active ministry, which he agreed to do.
Relevant health and police authorities were informed.
However, as of last night, there were no indications that either Health Service Executive or Garda investigations were under way.
Sources in Arundel and Brighton diocese indicated last night that, while Dr Casey had agreed readily to co-operate with any inquiry into the allegation, no contact had been made with the diocese by either the HSE or the Garda.
It was also confirmed that the bishop had no current plans to come to Ireland in relation to the matter.
Catholic Church sources in Kerry and Galway, the two Irish dioceses where Dr Casey served as bishop, said they had no knowledge of the allegation, the nature of which took them by surprise.
In Dublin yesterday, Catholic primate of Ireland Archbishop Seán Brady said he first heard of the allegation against Dr Casey when listening to the radio yesterday morning.
In Galway yesterday, where the funeral of Dr Casey's successor Dr James McLoughlin took place in Galway Cathedral, a spokeswoman for the Catholic communications office said that none of the many bishops present would be commenting on yesterday's report of the allegation against Dr Casey.
To do so would be "inappropriate" on an occasion when Bishop McLoughlin's life was being celebrated, she said.
