The confidentially aspect of an out-of-court settlement agreed between a priest of Derry diocese and a woman who alleged being abused by him as a child over a 10 year period “was not proposed by the diocese, but was proposed to the diocese by one of the other parties, and, to facilitate a Settlement, the diocese agreed,” the Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty said in a statement this evening.
He also said the diocese “made no contribution to the money (£12,000 sterling) paid by the priest.”
According to today's Belfast Telegraph the case involves a woman who said that a decade of abuse by a priest who had befriended her family began in 1979 when she was eight. She told her parents of the abuse only on the day of her 18th birthday.
She also claimed she was bound to secrecy in a legal deal which involved the Bishop Hegarty.
This evening Bishop Hegarty’s statement said the family involved brought the allegation to the attention of the diocese in January 1994. He continued that “professional assessment of the priest was carried out” and that the diocese notified social services in May 1995.
It said “the priest left parish ministry in June 1995 and remains out of parish ministry.”
Bishop Hegarty himself met senior members of the RUC about the case in October 1995.
Bishop Hegarty, his predecessor Bishop Edward Daly and the priest were sued by the woman making the allegation.
“After a protracted period of time, the priest paid £12,000 to her. The diocese made no contribution to the money paid by the priest. The case against Bishop Daly and Bishop Hegarty was dismissed,” the statement said.
It continued “a confidentiality agreement was not proposed by the diocese, but was proposed to the diocese by one of the other parties, and, to facilitate a settlement, the diocese agreed. This agreement was in the year 2000, five years after the civil authorities were first aware of the matter.”
The statement concluded by noting that “the diocese is today committed to the standards and guidance in the Safeguarding Children document; this involves a full and immediate communication of allegations to the civil authorities.”
