TWO REDEMPTORIST priests accused of child sex abuse continue to live at a monastery and retreat centre in east Galway that is regularly attended by groups of young people throughout the year, the religious congregation confirmed yesterday.
Explaining the arrangement, Redemptorist provincial Fr Michael Kelleher said: “We are advised that the most effective way of avoiding any recurrence of abusive behaviour is to offer support and supervision in a community setting and this is what we are endeavouring to do in this instance.”
In a statement to The Irish Times, Fr Kelleher said two members of the Redemptorist congregation, who have had child sex abuse allegations made against them, relating to some 30-35 years ago, have been living in the congregation’s Esker community.
“Both are out of ministry, have no contact with children, have support people and live within strict supervisory and monitoring criteria.”
Fr Kelleher confirmed that one of the priests was undergoing a canonical investigation by the church following the allegations of child abuse. If found guilty, he could be defrocked.
He continued: “Both the gardaí and the HSE are aware of the detail of the allegations made [two against one and a single complaint against the other] and are also aware of their current living and supervisory arrangements.
“The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) has been informed of the detail of both cases and supports our management plans for their ongoing supervision.”
Of the case, the Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert said he had been in contact with Mr Ian Elliott of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church on a number of occasions in the past few weeks.
He said Mr Elliott “pointed out (a) that the responsibility for the management of this situation rests with the Redemptorist provincial council and their advisory panel and (b) that he is satisfied with the arrangements that have been put in place.” Bishop Kirby added: “I am happy that the care of children and young people has been fully taken into account in the arrangements.”
The Clonfert child safeguarding committee, a lay group set up by the bishop to advise on child safety, has advised, however, that the two priests be removed from the residence.
Speaking of the committee in a homily on Easter Sunday last, Bishop Kirby said it was “committed to best practice in all of this [child abuse] and the members are not beholden to me or to any church structure”.
Last month a survey published by the NBSCCC found that Clonfert was one of just three Catholic dioceses on the island of Ireland that didn’t have a single parish safeguarding representative for child protection.
