Latest news with #'sBuriedSecrets
Irish Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gardaí taking no further investigation into original Bishop Eamonn Casey file
Gardaí are taking no further action into the original investigation file on disgraced Bishop Eamonn Casey. The review was conducted by the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) at the request of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. A garda spokesperson said: 'This review has been completed and no further investigative actions have been identified." The request came after an RTÉ documentary titled Bishop Casey's Buried Secrets examined the Catholic Church's handling of abuse allegations made against Casey. Multiple allegations of child sex abuse were made against the Bishop, including from his niece Patricia Donovan. She claimed that he first raped her at five years old and the abuse continued for years. Ms Donovan told the documentary: 'The horror of being raped by him when I was five, the violence. And it just carried on in that vein. He had no fear of being caught. 'He thought he could do what he liked, when he liked, how he liked… He was almost, like, incensed that I would dare fight against him, that I would dare try and hurt him, I would dare try and stop him… It didn't make any difference.' The former CEO of The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, Ian Elliott, described Bishop Casey as 'a sexual predator'. He told RTÉ: 'It should have been stopped… those that have been distressed and hurt should be helped and supported by the Church. That is a major priority.' Patricia Donovan (Image: RTÉ) Child sexual abuse allegations against Casey were reported to gardaí, but he was never charged. He vehemently denied all of these allegations when he was alive. The former Bishop of Galway died in 2017 and was buried in the crypt of Galway Cathedral. However, on Friday the diocese of Galway confirmed that his remains were removed and they are now with his family. In a statement, Galway Disocesan Office thanked everyone 'for their understanding of the situation, for their patience and for their respect as this process was undertaken and brought to a conclusion". It added: 'Significant consensus emerged around the unique role of a Cathedral as a place of unity rather than division, healing rather than hurt and peace rather than disquiet.' Casey resigned from his post as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh in 1992 after it was revealed that he had an affair with American woman Annie Murphy, which resulted in the birth of their son. The Vatican later confirmed that he was formally removed from public ministry in 2007 following 'allegations', which included complaints of child sexual abuse. However, this wasn't made publicly aware when he was alive and was only revealed during RTÉ's documentary last year. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Examiner
19-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Remains of Bishop Eamonn Casey removed from Galway Cathedral crypt
The remains of the late Bishop Eamonn Casey have been removed from the crypt at Galway Cathedral, the Diocese of Galway has confirmed. In a statement on Saturday, the Galway Diocesan Office said that, with the 'assent and cooperation' of members of Bishop Casey's family, and following prayers for the dead, his remains were moved from the cathedral crypt and entrusted to their care. The diocese did not specify the exact date of the disinterment. Eamonn Casey died in March 2017 at the age of 89 and was interred in the crypt at Galway Cathedral. In July 2024, the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora said that 'time and space' were needed 'to consider and consult' on his interment following the emergence of allegations of sexual abuse against the former bishop. That statement came after the broadcast of the RTÉ documentary Bishop Casey's Buried Secrets, which revealed that the Church had received four separate complaints of childhood sexual abuse against Bishop Casey, as well as one additional 'child safeguarding concern.' The programme also disclosed that the Catholic Church paid a six-figure settlement to one complainant after Casey's death, and that the Vatican secretly banned him from celebrating Mass publicly in 2007. The documentary featured an interview with one of Bishop Casey's five accusers — his niece, Patricia Donovan. Ms Donovan said she was raped and sexually assaulted by Bishop Casey from the age of five, with the abuse continuing for more than a decade. She also said some of the assaults occurred in Galway Cathedral and at the bishop's residence in the city. A 'deeply felt' matter In its most recent statement, the diocese said the matter of Bishop Casey's interment at Galway Cathedral was 'deeply felt' and had affected many people in different ways. It thanked the public for their "understanding of the situation, for their patience and for their respect as this process was undertaken and brought to a conclusion". The diocese also said that in recent months, "significant consensus emerged around the unique role of a Cathedral as a place of unity rather than division, healing rather than hurt and peace rather than disquiet". It also said it was the express wish of Bishop Casey's family that the arrangements for his final resting place remain private. "The members of Bishop Eamonn's family involved ask that their earnest desire for privacy be respected at this time," the statement added. "We pray that God will continue to draw all those who have been affected by this matter into his healing love." Eamonn Casey served as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh from 1976 until his resignation in 1992. That year, it was revealed that Casey had defrauded the Galway Diocese of £70,000 to support a son, Peter, whom he had fathered with American woman Annie Murphy in the early 1970s.
