Posted online: Dec 1st, 2011

The review of the Diocese of Raphoe by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) has shown a long history of mishandling clerical abuse.
The review, launched on Wednesday by Bishop Philip Boyce, singled out his predecessors Bishop Seamus Hegarty and Bishop Anthony McFeely for mishandling allegations and complaints made to them during their time as Bishop of the Raphoe Diocese.
Bishop Boyce claims that it was probably more to do with the culture of the time rather than an attempt to ignore it.
In the press statement Bishop Boyce read, he said that “during the past decades there has been poor judgement and mistakes made, There were horrific acts of abuse of children by individual priests, that should never have happened, and if suspected should have been dealt with immediately in the appropriate manner.”
The review showed that between the 1st January 1975 and the 1st August 2010:
• 14 priests in the Diocese had allegations of abuse made against them,
• 52 allegations were reported to the Gardaí and the HSE,
• 8 priests against whom allegations were made are “out of ministry” or have left the priesthood,
• 4 priests have been convicted of abuse against a child or young person.
The four cases that has resulted in convictions were against Fr Eugene Greene, former priest Paul McDaid, Fr Daniel Doherty and his brother Fr John Doherty.
Many abuse survivors have called the report a let down. In relation to a more detailed investigation, Bishop Boyce said that he would welcome a more in-depth inquiry as long as it would be “profitable” to all those involved. He also said that he will accept whatever is asked for in terms of further inquiries and if more concrete allegations would come to light, the situation would change.