John Cooney's book on Archbishop John Charles McQuaid contains no evidence to substantiate claims that he was a homosexual or obsessed with sexuality, the Dublin Archdiocese said yesterday.
In a statement coinciding with the publication of the book, John Charles McQuaid - Ruler of Catholic Ireland, the archdiocese said: "In articles and interviews during the last two weeks, Mr John Cooney suggested that people should wait to read his book before commenting on the claims about Dr McQuaid . . .
"The book has now been available for several days and has been formally launched today. No evidence is presented in it to substantiate the claims made in the Sunday Times articles of October 31st and November 7th. It is regrettable that Mr Cooney has chosen to burden his book with claims of this nature based on conjecture and hearsay.
"Members of the family of the late Dr McQuaid have expressed the wish to join with the archdiocese in the above statement."
In extracts published in the Sunday Times it is alleged that Dr McQuaid made sexual advances to a schoolboy and behaved inappropriately towards other children.
The principal allegation was said to be contained in an unpublished manuscript by the late Dr Noel Browne.