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RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Funeral takes place of former Bishop of Ferns Brendan Comiskey
The funeral has taken place of the former Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey. His funeral mass at Sruleen Parish Church in Clondalkin in Dublin heard of a life lived through faith, hope and love. Dr Comiskey, was remembered as a man who cherished his time with his family and that there was a profound sense of gratitude among his family, friends and colleagues for the love his gave them and the wisdom he shared. He was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1961 and became Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1979. In 1984 he was appointed the Bishop of Ferns. He resigned in 2002 amid claims that he failed to report allegations that Fr Sean Fortune had abused a number of children while Dr Comiskey was in control of the Ferns diocese. Those allegations resulted in an inquiry known as the Ferns Report. It found that the former bishop had failed to establish sound child protection measures in the diocese. Fr James Fegan, a former colleague of Dr Comiskey in Ferns, told those gathered for the funeral mass that Dr Comiskey was "a product of the church culture of his time" where the focus was on the organisation rather than on people.
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.
The Journal
28-04-2025
- The Journal
Former bishop Brendan Comiskey, who resigned over Ferns Report, dies aged 89
DISGRACED FORMER BISHOP Brendan Comiskey has died, aged 89. Comiskey previously served as the Bishop of Ferns before resigning following the publication of the Ferns Report, which outlined a catalogue of child sex abuse in the diocese over a period of four decades. There were claims that he did not report allegations that Fr Sean Fortune had abused a number of children while Comiskey was bishop, and as a result he failed to protect children in the diocese. The Monaghan native died this morning in Louth County Hospital in Dundalk. Advertisement Comiskey was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1961. He became Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1979 and was appointed the Bishop of Ferns in April 1984. In his resignation letter in 2003, Comiskey said he was never asked or forced to resign by the Catholic Church after the Ferns report came out. Colm O'Gorman, a survivor of clerical abuse in the diocese and a long-time campaigner for justice, said Comiskey's governance was 'appalling'. 'Brendan Comiskey was not a good bishop, and he did not behave in a way that could be considered to be moral or appropriate or decent,' he said. 'But it would be wrong and it would be false to suggest that this was about some unique individual failing or level of incompetence. There was no incompetence involved. He did what he was mandated to do [by the Church].' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
28-04-2025
- RTÉ News
Breaking Former bishop of Ferns Brendan Comiskey dies
Former Bishop of Ferns Brendan Comiskey, who resigned in April 2002 over failing to address allegations of clerical sexual abuse in the diocese, has died. The allegations resulted in an inquiry into child sexual abuse known as the Ferns Report. Dr Comiskey 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. One of his victims was the advocate and former Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O'Gorman, who subsequently founded the charity One in Four for victims of abuse. Mr O'Gorman was one of the first of Fortune's many victims to report the assaults to gardaí. Born in August 1935, Brendan Comiskey was originally from Clontibret in Co Monaghan. He was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1961. He became Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1979 and was appointed the Bishop of Ferns in April 1984. The Ferns report found that the former bishop failed to establish sound child protection measures in the diocese. It also found his predecessor Bishop Donal Herlihy excluded unsuitable candidates from the priesthood and there was a failure ensure that alleged abusers were kept away from children.
