The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, has removed a parish priest from his duties after being informed by Waterford gardaí of a sex abuse allegation made against the priest dating back to the 1980s.
Dr Walsh was informed of the complaint last Friday evening and in response travelled to the remote Clare parish to inform parishioners that he was removing the priest from his duties immediately.
Before he addressed parishioners at Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, Dr Walsh met the parish council to inform it that an allegation had been made against its priest and that he was removing him from his ministry.
According to a spokesman for the bishop yesterday, the allegation made by the complainant dates back to the 1980s, before the man became a practising priest. At the time, it is understood that the man was a member of a religious order in Co Waterford. He has been a serving priest in the diocese of Killaloe for the past 12 years and had served in two parishes, the spokesman added.
He said Dr Walsh had complied with the church guidelines to bishops on child sexual abuse in acting promptly and removing the priest from his duties when the bishop was informed of the allegation. Dr Walsh was unavailable for comment yesterday.
According to the chairman of the parish council concerned, Dr Walsh was "very, very upset" when informing parishioners of his move to remove the priest at the weekend. The council chairman said the parish was "shocked".
"The priest has been here for 1½ years and has been an excellent priest and got on extremely well with the people here. We have the utmost respect for him.
"The man is innocent until proven otherwise. It is an allegation from one individual, so we would hope that the investigation is concluded quickly." The priest had "the full support" of the parish, he said.
It is understood that the priest is still living in the parish and, according to the parish council chairman, Dr Walsh had asked parishioners to respect his privacy.
