Sir, - I refer to the article, "Paedophile Revelations Shattered a Sacred Bond", by Fintan O'Toole (August 23rd). Already, in a letter in the Irish Times (October 4th 1996) in reply to a previous article by Fintan O'Toole, I pointed out that, contrary to what Fintan O'Toole claims, the diocesan agency which then acted for Cardinal Daly - the Down and Connor Catholic Family Welfare Society - assisted the family in reporting to the police abuse committed by Brendan Smyth. In March 1990 formal statements were made to the RUC by members of the same family and a criminal investigation was under way.
This, as I pointed out, was eleven months before the letter to which your columnist refers. Yet, Fintan O'Toole, in his latest article, repeats the accusation that Cardinal Daly "failed to call in the police".
In spite of my earlier letter Fintan O'Toole persists in making what is a very injurious charge against Cardinal Daly. It is important that, once more, the truth of this matter be put on record. Hence, my present letter. - Yours, etc., JIM CANTWELL,
Director,Catholic Press & Information Office, Co Dublin.