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Sunday World
01-05-2025
- Sunday World
Video: Funeral of disgraced Bishop Brendan Comiskey takes place in Clondalkin
The Bishop moved away from public life after the Ferns Report exposed abuse by the church The funeral of disgraced Bishop Brendan Comiskey, who resigned over criticism of his role in investigating allegations of clerical sexual abuse, has been buried today. The funeral of the 89 year old took place earlier today at the Church of the Sacred Heart on St Johns Drive in Clondalkin, Dublin. Predeceased by his parents, two sisters and seven brothers, the holy man ended his career in disgrace after the Ferns Report revealed the true extent of the abuse inflicted on kids in the care of the church. Soon after the report was made public, the Monaghan native retreated from public life as it emerged that 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.' 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.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Mourners at controversial bishop Brendan Comiskey's funeral told ‘failure does not define a person's life'
Bishop Brendan Comiskey, who died this week at the age of 89, quit as bishop of the Ferns diocese in the south-east of Ireland in 2002 after acknowledging failings in his handling of complaints against notorious priest, Fr Sean Fortune. The diocese's much-criticised response to allegations against Fr Fortune – who took his own life in 1999 while on bail awaiting trial on a litany of child abuse charges – and other clerics in its parishes, prompted the government's landmark Ferns Inquiry. The subsequent Ferns Report, published in 2005, was damning of the diocese's handling of clerical abuse allegations across a four-decade period. Requiem mass for Bishop Comiskey, who was originally from Co Monaghan, was held in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Clondalkin in west Dublin on Thursday. Fr Jim Fegan, a priest in the Ferns diocese, told hundreds of mourners who gathered for the service that failure in one aspect of a person's life does not define them entirely. He said the bishop was in some respects a 'product of the church culture of his time'. Fr Fegan said the bishop 'believed deeply in the power of kindness and that every person deserved to be treated with dignity and respect'. 'And he embraced this belief wholeheartedly,' he added. 'He had a huge, huge heart, and he always spoke of the value of compassion and the power of a kind word or a helping hand.' Reflecting on his resignation as Bishop of Ferns, Fr Fegan said: 'Leadership is never easy, and Brendan experienced his own unique mix of gifts, challenges and life lessons, and there were times when he felt he did not meet the expectations that had been set before him, but yet it is very important to recognise that failure in one aspect does not define the entirety of a person's life or their great legacy.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The cleric went on to quote part of the statement Bishop Comiskey made upon his resignation. It was a statement in which the bishop asked for forgiveness and acknowledged while he had tried to do his best, his best was 'not good enough'. The priest then told mourners: 'My friends, we can see more clearly now that Brendan Comiskey was in some ways a product of the church culture of his time, and that was a culture that focused on organisation rather than people. 'At all times, Brendan stated very clearly that all those who have suffered abuse must never be forgotten, and they must be assured of how much God truly loves them and how abuse is handled must be constantly under review. 'No one moment is the measure of a person's life. All the moments must be in the scales, and we leave the final reckoning to God, who alone knows our innermost thoughts. 'The overall story of Brendan Comiskey's life and the church that he led, I believe, helps to shape our approach to leadership and accountability today so we too can admit when we have gone astray and correct our course, so that we can better appreciate that leadership is, above all, a shared endeavour filled with good decisions and bad, and that life is not just about how we handle our failures or our successes, but rather about the love we give to our companions on the road.'
Sunday World
29-04-2025
- Sunday World
Archbishops pay tribute to disgraced former bishop Brendan Comiskey as funeral announced
'PERSONAL SYMPATHIES' | 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 Former Bishop of Ferns, Brendan Comiskey. Photo: PJ Browne 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. 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.
BreakingNews.ie
29-04-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Bishop Brendan Comiskey to be buried on Thursday
Bishop Brendan Comiskey, who resigned following claims he failed to deal properly with child sexual abuse allegations in the diocese of Ferns, is to be laid to rest on Thursday. Bishop Comiskey, aged 89, died on Sunday in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk. Advertisement He stood down from his role on Easter Monday, 2002, after the BBC aired a documentary called Suing the Pope, which revealed more than 100 allegations of abuse by 21 priests over more than three decades. The documentary alleged Comiskey had failed to protect children from paedophile priests and had participated in the cover-up of allegations of child sexual abuse. The allegations resulted in an inquiry into child sexual abuse. The Ferns Report, published by the government in 2005, shed more light on a catalogue of abuse going back to the tenure of Comiskey's predecessor, Donal Herlihy, when he was Bishop. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday at 1pm in the Church of the Sacred Heart, St Johns Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin. Advertisement His funeral notice details that the Monaghan native, who was 'dearly loved' and will be 'sadly missed by his loving and attentive nieces and nephews and their families and extended family. 'Sisters, Brothers and Secular Branch members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary; Bishop Ger Nash and the clergy, religious and laity of the diocese of Ferns and the Archdiocese of Dublin and Brendan's wide circle of friends.' He was predeceased by his parents Clare (McArdle,) and Patrick J Comiskey, sisters Genevieve and May, brothers Edmond, Joseph, Kevin, Patrick, Maurice, Peter and Sean. He had been living in the Sacred Hearts Community, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, prior to his death. Advertisement Dr Comiskey primarily resigned over claims that he did not report allegations that Fr Sean Fortune had abused a number of children while Dr Comiskey was in control of the Ferns diocese. Fr Fortune was a serial paedophile with a manipulative personality, and Dr Comiskey admitted he found him difficult to deal with. Fortune died by suicide while on bail in 1999. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can freephone the Samaritans 24 hours a day for confidential support at 116 123 or email jo@ In the case of an emergency, or if you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or self-harm, dial 999/112.
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Funeral details announced for former bishop Brendan Comiskey
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. 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. Bishop Comiskey passed away early Monday morning in the Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, predeceased by his parents, two sisters and seven brothers. 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 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.
