A support group for victims of sexual abuse says it is "gravely concerned" at attempts by Cardinal Desmond Connell to prevent the Commission of Investigation into Clerical Sexual Abuse accessing files belonging to the Archdiocese of Dublin.
The One in Four organisation described the move by Cardinal Connell (81) as a cynical attempt to use legal manoeuvres to limit the work of the statutory investigation, and "a slap in the face to the women and men who have waited decades for truth".
Lawyers for the former archbishop of Dublin yesterday secured an interim injunction in the High Court restraining the commission from examining the documents until a full hearing can determine whether they are privileged and/or are covered by a duty of confidentiality.
The Dublin archdiocese only became aware for the first time on Wednesday that Cardinal Connell (81) was planning the legal action.
The advocacy director at One in Four, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, said: "It is disturbing that more than five years on from the disclosure of allegations of sexual abuse made against over 100 priests of the Archdiocese of Dublin and commitments from senior church figures to work to establish the truth of these cases that Cardinal Connell has decided to attempt to block the work of this statutory investigation."
"Any reasonable person must surely ask why Cardinal Connell has decided to take this action. What exactly is the Cardinal determined to hide?" she said.
One in Four called on Cardinal Connell to abandon his High Court action and co-operate "fully and transparently" with the commission.
Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Dr Eamonn Walsh said today the Dublin Archdiocese would co-operate fully with the Commission.
Dr Walsh said up to now the policy of diocesan has been not to comment on the work of the commission.
"At the centre of the inquiry are the people who were abused by clergy in the past and we have to get to the truth of that so that they can have a sense that they were heard and believed."
He said he hoped the inquiry would bring victims another step along the road of getting as peaceful a life as possible.
Dr Walsh said he could not comment directly on Cardinal Connell's legal move as it might prejudice the outcome of the High Court case.