Archbishops pay tribute to former bishop Brendan Comiskey as funeral details announced
Comiskey, who died yesterday at the age of 89, will be buried on Thursday, May 1, at 1pm in the Church of the Sacred Heart, St Johns Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin.
He died early Monday morning in the Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, predeceased by his parents, two sisters and seven brothers.
Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin said: "I wish to express my sadness at the death of Bishop Brendan Comiskey SS CC, Bishop Emeritus of Ferns, who served for over twenty years as a member of the Bishops Conference.'
He added: "I am deeply conscious that he chose to resign as Bishop of Ferns in April 2002 while recognising his failures in governance, and accepting that his continuation in office would 'indeed be an obstacle to healing' for victims and survivors of abuse.
"The safeguarding of children and vulnerable persons, and the prompt reporting of allegations of abuse, is of paramount importance in the Church today and must remain so.
"Bishop Comiskey's death will rekindle memories of pain and suffering for many and I my thoughts and prayers at this time are also with all those who have been traumatised or let down by the awful sins and crimes and abuse perpetrated by members of the Church, or by the failure to appropriately and adequately follow up concerns that were brought to those in leadership.'
Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell said Comiskey's decision to resign as Bishop of Ferns following allegations of child abuse in the Diocese 'necessitated both courage and strength'
Archbishop Farrell said: 'His words communicated both his humility, and the painful discovery of the reality of abuse, and its long-lasting consequences. It brought him to the realisation that those who shepherd the Lord's flock were to be more concerned about the survivors, the most vulnerable, than about themselves, their position in society, their reputation, or their status.
"I offer my personal sympathies and prayers to his family, to the members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, priests, religious, friends, and to the many people whose lives he touched throughout his 64 years of priestly and episcopal ministry. We ask the Lord to grant him eternal rest.'
The Monaghan native retreated from public life following the publication of the damning Ferns Report which outlined a catalogue of child sex abuse in the diocese over a period of forty years.
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It emerged that Bishop Comiskey had failed to protect children from paedophile priests and failed to report allegations that Fr Seán Fortune had abused a number of children.
The Ferns report found that Comiskey had "failed to recognise the paramount need to protect children, as a matter of urgency, from potential abusers".
Born in August 1935, Dr Comiskey was originally from Clontibret in Co Monaghan and was ordained a priest in 1961.
He became Bishop of Ferns back in 1984, aged just 49. He would serve in the role for 18 years, through what is widely regarded as one of the darkest periods of the Catholic Church.
Speaking to the Irish Independent in 2014 about the clerical abuse scandal, he said: 'I did my best and it wasn't good enough and that's it.'
For clerical sex abuse survivor Colm O'Gorman, the news of Bishop Comiskey's passing stopped him in his tracks.
"I had to think, 'how do I feel about it?'' he said. 'First of all, I'd say that the death of anybody is a sad moment. I genuinely mean it when I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and those who loved him.
"Brendan Comiskey has been a private individual for a very long time. In terms of his legacy, I think it's clearly laid out in the Ferns Report for anyone who wants to read it,' said Mr O'Gorman, who founded the One in Four charity which offers support to women and men who have experienced sexual violence.
"He was, however, one Bishop. It was really clear in the years following the report that Ferns was sadly not unique at all.'
In recent years, Bishop Comiskey had been under the care of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Ranelagh in Dublin.
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'WE JUST HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN PAIN' 'She was talking on her phone to a friend because one of her friends later said they had heard a big bang and for someone to call an ambulance. 'Before they knew she was dead, some of her friends had come round to the house to give us presents for New Year - some flowers and wine. 'Like us, they are heartbroken. The house party didn't take place after this tragedy. 'The police have been brilliant. I can't complain. They are being helpful and I feel sorry for these guys just out doing their job on New Year's Eve and having to tell us parents what happened. 'They offered me some of Olivia's belonging's I told them just to leave, I don't want them. "They cannot find her phone which she was speaking on and which was full of so many pictures. 'She was a beautiful girl, and had done one modelling session which she really enjoyed. It was a tragic accident. Post Office worker Izabela added: "We had so many happy memories, we were so happy as a family but we're not a family anymore without Olivia. 'She came into the Post Office where I was working to wish me a Happy New Year, and I gave her some money and told how to enjoy herself and have fun. "That was the last time I saw her that was her last ever New Year, I can't believe I'll never see her again. 'I hope she didn't suffer, I hope she went quickly. I can't bear to think of her in pain.' 'It is heart breaking, my husband is devastated and my parents in Poland, Olivia's grandparents, are so so sad, they don't feel their best. We are trying to support each other. 'We can't eat or sleep, our kind friend and neighbour has cooked a meal for us but we can't eat. Nobody can help us, we just have to live our lives in pain. 'I am absolutely heartbroken. She was my whole world. I cannot imagine life without her anymore. 'I don't know how I am going to get up and get on with my life. It is broken forever.' 4 Lord, 42, has never been charged with any criminal offence relating to fatal smash. Credit: SWNS
