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Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
‘It was long overdue': Move to remove disgraced Bishop Eamonn Casey from Galway Cathedral praised by clergy and campaigners
The family of disgraced bishop Eamonn Casey now face the prospect of whether to cremate his remains or bury him, after the Galway Diocese confirmed that his remains have been removed from the crypt of Galway Cathedral. The move — which had been deliberated on for nearly a year by his family, the Galway Diocese and Catholic Church hierarchy — follows multiple allegations of child sexual abuse, and the revelation last year that he was removed from ministry by the Vatican a decade before he died, a restriction which was never publicly known. Casey is the first Irish bishop to be removed from his resting place after the allegations of abuse were exposed, in addition to the alleged cover-up by the church amid public outcry. Colm O'Gorman, who is a long-time campaigner for survivors of clerical sexual abuse, said the disinterment was 'obviously the right decision'. Mr O'Gorman, a survivor of abuse at the hands of the late Fr Seán Fortune, said that burying somebody in a "cathedral crypt makes a statement about that person's standing and reputation, numbering them among the 'great and the good'. 'Obviously, it [the burial in the ¬cathedral crypt] was a source of great offence and hurt to Bishop Casey's victims,' Mr O'Gorman added. The founder of the One in Four group, which supports survivors of sexual abuse, said he hoped the decision to allow Casey's family to re-inter his body elsewhere 'would bring some closure to his victims , particularly because his interment there [in Galway Cathedral] caused very great hurt.' Eamonn Casey, who was once one of Ireland's most popular and publicly charismatic bishops, was the subject of an RTÉ documentary last year, produced in association with the Irish Mail on Sunday following a long-running investigation. The documentary was presented by Anne Sheridan, now news editor of the Sunday Independent. It revealed that Casey faced five child abuse allegations, over four decades, from the 1950s to the 1980s, and in every Irish diocese where he served. ADVERTISEMENT Three of those allegations relate to the Limerick diocese, with one woman receiving a settlement of over €100,000. Another woman received a settlement through the Residential Institutions Redress Board. Casey's niece, Patricia Donovan, made a complaint to gardaí that she was abused by him from the age of five for over a decade. The programme revealed that Casey was formally removed from public ministry in 2007 by the Vatican, but the church never disclosed this to the public. Fr Patsy Lynch, a Kerry priest who ripped up photos showing his ordination by Casey, who was then Bishop of Kerry, after the programme aired, also welcomed the move by the Galway Diocese. He told the Irish Independent: 'This action is long overdue. My thoughts are with Patricia Donovan and others abused by Eamonn Casey.' A number of days after the programme aired, the Galway diocese released a statement saying: 'The interment of Bishop Casey in the cathedral crypt now requires a period of careful consideration and consultation, which has already begun. 'Time and space are required to adequately and appropriately bring this undertaking to completion.' Yesterday, nearly a year since the programme aired, the diocese said Casey's remains 'have been moved from the cathedral crypt and entrusted to the care' of the family. Patricia Donovan, from Limerick, first reported Bishop Casey for alleged abuse in 2005 after it allegedly began in the late 1960s for over a decade. Ms Donovan spoke out for the first time in 2019. Detectives in Limerick travelled to England to take a statement from her in January 2006 but, by August of the same year, the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that no charges be brought on 13 sample allegations. Bishop Casey later said that he was 'utterly amazed' by the speed of the decision from the DPP, claiming that he had only been interviewed by gardai a few weeks prior. He denied her allegations. He was never convicted of any crimes.
Extra.ie
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Redress is essential in holding religious orders and schools to account, say abuse survivors
Survivors of child sex abuse in Irish schools have questioned the establishment of a new Commission of Investigation without an accompanying mechanism for redress. Advocacy groups warned that without redress, educational institutions and religious orders will be able to 'avoid accountability' for abuse of children and said the State inquiry 'must not become an obstacle to justice'. Education Minister Helen McEntee yesterday announced details of a Commission of Investigation into historical child sex abuse in schools across Ireland, not just those being run by religious orders. Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/ The need for a commission was highlighted by a scoping inquiry last year, which identified some 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders, involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools across the country between 1927 and 2013. Most allegations were from the records of 42 religious orders. Ms McEntee said that institutions and religious orders will be 'held accountable' for 'awful' crimes against children and will be expected to fund any potential redress scheme. The commission – to be chaired by Judge Michael McGrath – will examine the handling of allegations, suspicions and concerns of sex abuse in schools; failure to treat concerns, causes and responsibility for such failure; failure to prevent harm; and the concealment of child sex abuse. His Hon. Mr Justice Michael McGrath. Pic: Collins Courts It will take five years to complete at a cost of tens of millions of euros. A separate body of work will be undertaken 'in tandem' with the commission's work to explore how a redress scheme could operate, with religious orders and educational institutions expected to pay any resulting compensation. 'The most appropriate thing would be for orders to come forward themselves to offer redress schemes,' Ms McEntee said. Advocacy groups One in Four and Restore Together – set up to support survivors of sexual abuse in Spiritan schools – have welcomed the establishment of the Commission of Investigation and the commitment to expand its remit to all schools, but sounded the alarm over further redress delays. Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Pic: Fran Veale While the Spiritans have already publicly committed to undertaking their own redress scheme, Restore Together said that the inquiry should not 'inadvertently shield institutions from taking immediate responsibility'. 'Justice delayed is justice denied. Redress cannot wait,' it stated. Spokesman Philip Feddis added: 'How will the Government ensure that redress – both financial and therapeutic – advances and concludes in tandem with the five-year time limit prescribed by the minister?' One in Four chief Deirdre Kenny said: 'While we appreciate this is complex, survivors have shown immense resilience and patience; therefore, we are concerned about any further delay. Delays disadvantage survivors and may allow institutions to avoid accountability and responsibility.' Jen Cummins, Social Democrats TD. Pic: File Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins said the Government must be firm when seeking compensation from religious orders. 'We cannot have a repeat of this Government going to religious orders, cap in hand, pleading for contributions – as happened, most recently, with the mother and baby home redress scheme,' Ms Cummins, education spokeswoman for her party, said. 'If religious orders are unwilling to contribute to redress, the Government must go after them with a legal team, not a begging bowl.' The Education Minister also promised that the Government will not repeat the mistakes of the Farrelly Commission of Investigation, which dragged on for years and ran over budget. 'I am confident that this can be done within a five-year time period,' Ms McEntee said. The establishment of the new Commission of Investigation comes less than three months after the publication of the final report from the beleaguered Farrelly Commission. The Farrelly probe examined the care of a young disabled woman – 'Grace' – in a foster home in the southeast of the country. The inquiry was originally meant to take place over one year. However, the publication of the final report was delayed on nine separate occasions. It will ultimately cost close to €20million and failed to make any substantive findings of abuse – despite interim reports doing so. The report was widely criticised by children's rights advocates and disability campaigners, while the entire Commission of Investigation model came under scrutiny. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the State must evaluate 'whether there is a better way of cutting to the truth much more effectively'
Irish Examiner
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Survivors welcome commission of investigation into handling of sexual abuse in schools
Survivors' groups have welcomed a commission of investigation into the handling of sexual abuse in schools but warned that further delays to redress for victims could allow institutions to avoid accountability. The commission follows a scoping inquiry last year that detailed almost 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse across more than 300 religious-run schools. The soon-to-be-established commission will examine the handling of allegations, suspicions, and concerns of sexual abuse in all schools, including primary and post-primary. It will also examine the handling of these complaints by religious bodies and State agencies, including the Department of Education, the HSE, and An Garda Síochána. Announcing the establishment of the commission, education minister Helen McEntee vowed that the institutions and religious orders 'involved in these awful crimes' will contribute to redress. The State has a track record of failure when it comes to compelling religious orders to contribute financially towards victims. Most recently, it emerged that just two of the eight religious orders linked to mother and baby homes offered to contribute to the €800m redress scheme for survivors. Ms McEntee said more work is needed to decide how a redress scheme for victims of sexual abuse in schools is to progress. 'It's very clearly the wish of survivors but what's very clear also is that any redress scheme would be funded by the religious orders and by those who were accountable for the awful abuses which happened in our schools.' This work will continue 'in parallel' with the work of the commission and will focus on further examination of the religious orders. 'What funds they have, what assets they have, what levers may be used by government to ensure that funding is provided by those religious groups and orders,' Ms McEntee said. This is being worked on by the Attorney General. 'It is important to stress that the preferred outcome here is that religious institutions and organisations would come forward,' she added. Survivor advocacy group One in Four welcomed the move to formally approve a commission of investigation into the handling of child sexual abuse in schools across Ireland from 1927 to 2013. The scale reflects the thousands of lives affected and the deep impact on families and communities for generations, according to One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny. 'We recognise the complexity of the commission's work and what it represents for survivors and for Irish society,' she said. 'Examining how concerns were managed is vital for understanding past failures and building a safer, more accountable future for all children.' Concern around redress delays However, the group also expressed concerns about further delays to redress for victims. 'While we appreciate this is complex, survivors have shown immense resilience and patience. Therefore, we are concerned about any further delay. 'Delays disadvantage survivors and may allow institutions to avoid accountability and responsibility,' said Ms Kenny. The commission is set to run for the next five years, and will cost 'tens of millions', Ms McEntee said. Earlier this year, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there is a need to 'fundamentally reflect' on costly and lengthy commissions of investigation which come up with 'deeply unsatisfactory' findings. Mr Martin was speaking after the publication of the Farrelly Commission report into the 'Grace' foster home case, which took eight years at a cost of €13.6m so far, with the final bill set to top €20m. The commission published its 2,000-page report into the case in April. The report was subsequently roundly criticised by whistleblowers, Ireland's Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, and across political parties. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Scale of Commission of Investigation reflects 'deep impact on families'
The scale of the Commission of Investigation reflects the thousands of lives affected and the deep impact on families and communities for generations according to One in Four. This afternoon, the Government announced that is to establish a Commission of Investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools across the country. One in Four which works with people who have been subjected to abuse has welcomed "the commitment to a broad and inclusive approach, covering all schools and with a definition of concerns of sexual abuse that includes formal allegations, information and witnessed behaviours". It expressed hope that by investigating how concerns and allegations of child sexual abuse were handled by schools, religious bodies and state agencies, the Commission will uncover the failures to prevent sexual abuse, identify lessons for the future, whilst ensuring that the voices of those affected lead to meaningful change. Given the scale of the issue, One in Four has said it recognises that not every individual case can be investigated. "We urge the Commission to ensure its sampling methods are transparent so that all survivors and the wider public can understand how cases are selected and trust that the process is fair, open, and accountable," it said. It has expressed concern that the issue of redress will be further delayed. "While we appreciate this is complex, survivors have shown immense resilience and patience; therefore, we are concerned about any further delay. "Delays disadvantage survivors and may allow institutions to avoid accountability." It added that the Commission of Investigation is not an alternative route to justice for survivors, its focus is on examining how concerns were handled and learn from past failures. It has pointed out that the Survivor Engagement Programme, while not a legal process, offers survivors a confidential and supportive space to share the impact of their experiences, ensuring their voices inform the Commission's recommendations. CEO Deirdre Kenny said that examining how concerns were managed is vital for understanding past failures and building a safer, more accountable future for all children.
Irish Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man caught with haul of child abuse and anime images narrowly avoids jail
A Co Donegal man caught with a haul of child sex abuse and anime images on a computer hard-drive at his home has avoided going to jail. John Sweeney, 60, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to possession of the images when his house at Dore, Bunbeg was raided by Gardai on July 24, 2019. Detective Garda Enda Jennings and Michelle Kelly were acting on information forwarded by the Garda National Protective Services Bureau. It followed information they received that a user had uploaded child pornography from an Eircom internet account. The account was traced to John Sweeney whose Eircom account had been activated on April 11, 2014. Gardai visited the house and seized three mobile phones as well as a hard-drive. All the images including a total of 139 child abuse images and 94 anime images were found on the computer hard-drive. Sweeney was arrested, taken to Milford Garda Station and made full admissions. Detective Garda Enda Jennings told the court that the accused man had cooperated and told Gardai he had been going through a difficult time and was drinking heavily at the time. The court was further told that Sweeney lived alone at the address and had no previous convictions. Barrister for the accused, Ms Patricia McLaughlin, SC, said her client had given all his PIN numbers to Gardai and had cooperated fully and made admissions at the scene. However, because of a backlog in investigating such cases around the country at the time, it wasn't until November 2023 that a plea could be made. A number of the One in Four counselling service was given to Sweeney and he went about getting counselling during that time. Ms McLaughlin said it was not the case that her client shared any of the images and had no great sophisticated knowledge of computers but was accessing adult pornography over a period of time. Child pornography then began to pop up and the accused man then developed some curiosity on this, Ms McLaughlin added. Sweeney had been in a relationship for several years but this ended and he began to drink and this led to a deterioration in his mental health. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2015 but had recovered from this and he had a good work history up until this and had no previous convictions. A probation report dated May 29, 2025, said Sweeney was of a low risk of reoffending but there were some concerns for him because of his isolation and that he has limited support within the community. The report said Sweeney had been spending hours online going down a rabbit hole of adult pornography and then further material at a time when he was leading a chaotic lifestyle, suffering from emotional distress and abusing alcohol. However, the probation service also noted that he has expressed remorse and is aware that the images are wrong and was happy to go under the supervision of the probation services. Community service was not recommended for Sweeney because of his medical issues but he continues to go down the path of counselling, the probation report added. Ms McLaughlin added that Sweeney is a man of previous good character who has had the offence hanging over him for the past five years, that he lives in a small, local community and that he has taken steps towards rehabilitation. She asked Judge John Aylmer to consider dealing with the offence by way of a non-custodial sentence considering the overall amount of images, the amount of time the accused man had the images in his possession which was estimated to be two months and how he came upon the images. She said her client had had an "unsophisticated fall into child porn." Judge Aylmer said that on the very early plea and the number of images involved, he placed the offence at the lower end of the scale and one which merited a sentence of two years before mitigation. In mitigation, the Judge said Sweeney had no previous convictions, had cooperated fully with Gardai and had entered an early plea. He also noted that five years had elapsed since his arrest and appearing in court, that the case had been hanging over Sweeney, that he had availed of rehab and that he was assessed as being of a low risk of reoffending. For all of these factors as well as his remorse and shame, Judge Aylmer reduced the sentence to one of 18 months in prison. He added that the question then arises that if the court might suspend all or part of that sentence and that he accepted the advance by Sweeney's barrister, Ms McLaughlin, that there were similarities to another case, the McGinty case. Ms McLaughlin said that it was similar in many ways to the McGinty case because of the cooperation, the lack of previous convictions, the low risk of reoffending, the engagement in rehab as well as the fact that the case has hung over the accused for so long. Judge Aylmer agreed that this was one of those unusual cases where the court can suspend the entirety of the 18 months sentence and ordered Sweeney to go under the supervision of the probation services.
