Latest news with #SistersoftheSacredHeartsofJesusandMary
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
It's a complete miracle": Siblings find long-lost big sister 70 years after their mom was forced to give her up
After 73 years apart, Trish Caller, 61, and June Thompson, 63, finally met their long-lost older half-sister, Geraldine 'Geri' Ratcliffe, 77 — a reunion made possible by a chance DNA match and a daughter's curiosity. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As first reported by SWNS and the Somerset County Gazette, the heartwarming discovery unfolded in April 2025, tracing its roots back to a painful chapter in Irish history and a mother's lifelong longing to reconnect. Back in 1952, their mother, Mary Willis, was forced to give up her eldest daughter while living at the notorious in Ireland — an institution later condemned for its cruel treatment of young, unmarried mothers. Geraldine was just four years old when she was placed for adoption. For decades, the secret weighed heavily on Willis, who died in 2011 at the age of 84, never knowing that her daughters would one day find each other. Caller, who works as a columnist for the Somerset County Gazette, said their mother never lied — she simply couldn't speak about the trauma. 'Mum never told us any lies, she just never told us the truth as she was made to feel that she'd committed the worst sin against God,' she told SWNS. The turning point came in 2023, when Caller's daughter, Laura Polley, submitted her DNA to The results led to a stunning match in April 2025. Thinking it was an April Fool's joke, both Caller and Ratcliffe were skeptical—until an email from Caller made the incredible truth undeniable. 'I thought Laura was playing April Fool's on me,' Caller recalled. 'Turns out Geri thought the same thing too.' A Zoom call was quickly followed by a deeply emotional in-person meeting later that month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'It was instant love,' Caller said of finally embracing her long-lost sister. Despite having lived separate lives, the three siblings discovered they had striking similarities — from facial features to the same infectious laugh. Together, they pieced together more of their mother's story. Mary Willis had been just 21 when she gave birth to Geraldine in 1948. She later left Ireland, married Peter Willis, and went on to have three more children — Trish, June, and their brother Stephen. The Bessborough Home, where Mary was once confined, operated under the control of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. An Irish government investigation in 2021 revealed that nearly 900 children died there between 1922 and 1988, with many adoptions forced under immense pressure and shame. Though their mother never got the chance to reunite with the daughter she lost, her children honored her memory together — visiting her grave in a deeply moving tribute. 'We do feel like Mum is with us now, and she's been with us every step of the way,' Caller told the Somerset County Gazette. 'This is what Mum would have wanted.' The sisters now plan to travel to Ireland together, to walk through the places their mother once knew — and perhaps find a deeper sense of closure. 'It's a complete miracle,' said Caller. 'Having Geri in my life is something I've always wanted.'
Belfast Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Disgraced former bishop Brendan Comiskey dies aged 89: ‘He operated within a system that directed the cover-up'
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 40 years. It emerged that Bishop Comiskey had failed to protect children from paedophile priests and failed to report allegations that Fr Sean Fortune had abused a number of children. The report found Comiskey's investigation into the rape of children by his clergy was "an inappropriate and inadequate response". It concluded that he had "failed to recognise the paramount need to protect children, as a matter of urgency, from potential abusers". Comiskey 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. He resigned following the airing of a ground-breaking BBC documentary Suing the Pope, which uncovered over 100 allegations of abuse against 21 priests stretching back as far as 1962. News Catch Up - Monday 28th April 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. He was in the news again recently as a grave in Co Monaghan exhumed by experts searching for Disappeared victim Joe Lynskey belonged to the family of the former Bishop of Ferns. 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.' Outlining his feelings towards Bishop Comiskey, Mr O'Gorman said: 'I think people see the individual, the Bishop who behaved badly and orchestrated this cover-up. But the reality of the situation is that Brendan Comiskey and every other Bishop who covered up child sexual abuse and moved priests did so at the direction of the Vatican. "While he was responsible for his own actions on a personal level on one hand, he complied with the directives from the Vatican in relation to child sexual abuse. "I don't think Brendan Comiskey should be scapegoated or held up as the villain. He wasn't unique. He wasn't any worse than anyone else who operated within that system that directed the cover-up. "I was sad to hear that he had died and I would offer my sincere condolences again to his family.' In his early career, Dr Comiskey was catapulted into senior leadership roles at a young age. He was seen as a leading light of the Irish church, young, handsome, articulate and outspoken. However, his inability to tackle clerical abuse and control notorious abusers such as Fr Fortune was to prove his downfall. But even before his spectacular resignation, the young bishop was caught up in controversy when Cardinal Cahal Daly was forced to deny that Bishop Comiskey had been held by police in Bangkok Airport after being found drunk and without his passport. He went to the US for treatment for alcoholism and came back in early 1996 to face down allegations asserting he 'did not consort with prostitutes' while on holiday in Thailand. Born on 13 August 1935 in Clontibret, Co Monaghan, he was ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on 25 June 1961. He became head of his order in Ireland and the UK when he was just 34. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1979 when he was 45 and shortly afterwards he was appointed to the Diocese of Ferns. He resigned in 2002 after the broadcast of the BBC documentary. In his statement announcing his resignation, Dr Comiskey admitted he found Fortune difficult to deal with. The notorious abuser later committed suicide while on bail in March 1999. Bishop Éamonn Walsh was installed as Apostolic Administrator in Ferns in 2002 in the wake of Bishop Comiskey's resignation and he implemented a new child protection policy which resulted in many more historic allegations of child sexual abuse being reported. An inquiry into clerical sexual abuse in Ferns was set up following the resignation of Bishop Comiskey. The October 2005 Ferns Report identified over 100 allegations of child sexual abuse between 1962 and 2002 against 21 priests including Fr Seán Fortune and Fr Jim Grennan. It strongly criticised the former bishops of Ferns, Donal Herlihy and Brendan Comiskey for their inability to deal with the allegations of sexual abuse made against a number of priests. In his resignation statement in 2002, Bishop Comiskey said: 'The sexual abuse of children is deeply abhorrent to me. I apologise also to the families of victims and to all others who have been offended or hurt in different ways by the late Father Sean Fortune. 'In endeavouring to deal with the complexity and conflict which always surrounded Fr Fortune, and already existed prior to my appointment as Bishop of Ferns in May 1984, I can only assure you that I did my best. Clearly this was not good enough. I found Father Fortune virtually impossible to deal with. 'I confronted him regularly; for a time I removed him from ministry; I sought professional advice in several quarters; I listened to the criticisms and the praise; I tried compassion and I tried firmness; treatment was sought and arranged - and yet I never managed to achieve any level of satisfactory outcome. 'Father Fortune committed very grave wrongs and hurt many people. Despite the difficulties he presented in management terms, I should have adopted a more informed and more concerted approach to any dealings with him and for this I ask forgiveness.'
Sunday World
28-04-2025
- Sunday World
Disgraced former Bishop Brendan Comiskey dies aged 89
The Monaghan native retreated from public life following the publication of the damning Ferns Report 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 Sean Fortune had abused a number of children. The report found Comiskey's investigation into the rape of children by his clergy was "an inappropriate and inadequate response". It concluded that he had "failed to recognise the paramount need to protect children, as a matter of urgency, from potential abusers". Comiskey 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. He resigned following the airing of a ground-breaking BBC documentary Suing the Pope, which uncovered over 100 allegations of abuse against 21 priests stretching back as far as 1962. Speaking 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. Colm O'Gorman. Pic: Jim Campbell 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.' Outlining his feelings towards Bishop Comiskey, Mr O'Gorman said: 'I think people see the individual, the Bishop who behaved badly and orchestrated this cover-up. But the reality of the situation is that Brendan Comiskey and every other Bishop who covered up child sexual abuse and moved priests did so at the direction of the Vatican. "While he was responsible for his own actions on a personal level on one hand, he complied with the directives from the Vatican in relation to child sexual abuse. "I don't think Brendan Comiskey should be scapegoated or held up as the villain. He wasn't unique. He wasn't any worse than anyone else who operated within that system that directed the cover-up. "I was sad to hear that he had died and I would offer my sincere condolences again to his family.' In his early career, Dr Comiskey was catapulted into senior leadership roles at a young age. He was seen as a leading light of the Irish church, young, handsome, articulate and outspoken. However, his inability to tackle clerical abuse and control notorious abusers such as Fr Fortune was to prove his downfall. But even before his spectacular resignation, the young bishop was caught up in controversy when Cardinal Cahal Daly was forced to deny that Bishop Comiskey had been held by police in Bangkok Airport after being found drunk and without his passport. He went to the US for treatment for alcoholism and came back in early 1996 to face down allegations asserting he 'did not consort with prostitutes' while on holiday in Thailand. Born on 13 August 1935 in Clontibret, Co Monaghan, he was ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on 25 June 1961. He became head of his order in Ireland and the UK when he was just 34. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1979 when he was 45 and shortly afterwards he was appointed to the Diocese of Ferns. He resigned in 2002 after the broadcast of the BBC documentary. In his statement announcing his resignation, Dr Comiskey admitted he found Fortune difficult to deal with. The notorious abuser later committed suicide while on bail in March 1999. Bishop Éamonn Walsh was installed as Apostolic Administrator in Ferns in 2002 in the wake of Bishop Comiskey's resignation and he implemented a new child protection policy which resulted in many more historic allegations of child sexual abuse being reported. An inquiry into clerical sexual abuse in Ferns was set up following the resignation of Bishop Comiskey. The October 2005 Ferns Report identified over 100 allegations of child sexual abuse between 1962 and 2002 against 21 priests including Fr Seán Fortune and Fr Jim Grennan. It strongly criticised the former bishops of Ferns, Donal Herlihy and Brendan Comiskey for their inability to deal with the allegations of sexual abuse made against a number of priests. Bishop Brendan Comiskey (right) pictured with paedophile priest Sean Fortune in 1985. Photo In his resignation statement in 2002, Bishop Comiskey said: 'The sexual abuse of children is deeply abhorrent to me. I apologise also to the families of victims and to all others who have been offended or hurt in different ways by the late Father Sean Fortune. 'In endeavouring to deal with the complexity and conflict which always surrounded Fr Fortune, and already existed prior to my appointment as Bishop of Ferns in May 1984, I can only assure you that I did my best. Clearly this was not good enough. I found Father Fortune virtually impossible to deal with. 'I confronted him regularly; for a time I removed him from ministry; I sought professional advice in several quarters; I listened to the criticisms and the praise; I tried compassion and I tried firmness; treatment was sought and arranged - and yet I never managed to achieve any level of satisfactory outcome. 'Father Fortune committed very grave wrongs and hurt many people. Despite the difficulties he presented in management terms, I should have adopted a more informed and more concerted approach to any dealings with him and for this I ask forgiveness.'
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Disgraced former bishop Brendan Comiskey dies aged 89 – ‘He operated within a system that directed the cover-up'
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 Sean Fortune had abused a number of children. The report found Comiskey's investigation into the rape of children by his clergy was "an inappropriate and inadequate response". It concluded that he had "failed to recognise the paramount need to protect children, as a matter of urgency, from potential abusers". Comiskey 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. He resigned following the airing of a ground-breaking BBC documentary Suing the Pope, which uncovered over 100 allegations of abuse against 21 priests stretching back as far as 1962. 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. 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.' Outlining his feelings towards Bishop Comiskey, Mr O'Gorman said: 'I think people see the individual, the Bishop who behaved badly and orchestrated this cover-up. But the reality of the situation is that Brendan Comiskey and every other Bishop who covered up child sexual abuse and moved priests did so at the direction of the Vatican. "While he was responsible for his own actions on a personal level on one hand, he complied with the directives from the Vatican in relation to child sexual abuse. "I don't think Brendan Comiskey should be scapegoated or held up as the villain. He wasn't unique. He wasn't any worse than anyone else who operated within that system that directed the cover-up. "I was sad to hear that he had died and I would offer my sincere condolences again to his family.' In his early career, Dr Comiskey was catapulted into senior leadership roles at a young age. He was seen as a leading light of the Irish church, young, handsome, articulate and outspoken. However, his inability to tackle clerical abuse and control notorious abusers such as Fr Fortune was to prove his downfall. But even before his spectacular resignation, the young bishop was caught up in controversy when Cardinal Cahal Daly was forced to deny that Bishop Comiskey had been held by police in Bangkok Airport after being found drunk and without his passport. He went to the US for treatment for alcoholism and came back in early 1996 to face down allegations asserting he 'did not consort with prostitutes' while on holiday in Thailand. Born on 13 August 1935 in Clontibret, Co Monaghan, he was ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on 25 June 1961. He became head of his order in Ireland and the UK when he was just 34. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1979 when he was 45 and shortly afterwards he was appointed to the Diocese of Ferns. He resigned in 2002 after the broadcast of the BBC documentary. In his statement announcing his resignation, Dr Comiskey admitted he found Fortune difficult to deal with. The notorious abuser later committed suicide while on bail in March 1999. Bishop Éamonn Walsh was installed as Apostolic Administrator in Ferns in 2002 in the wake of Bishop Comiskey's resignation and he implemented a new child protection policy which resulted in many more historic allegations of child sexual abuse being reported. An inquiry into clerical sexual abuse in Ferns was set up following the resignation of Bishop Comiskey. The October 2005 Ferns Report identified over 100 allegations of child sexual abuse between 1962 and 2002 against 21 priests including Fr Seán Fortune and Fr Jim Grennan. It strongly criticised the former bishops of Ferns, Donal Herlihy and Brendan Comiskey for their inability to deal with the allegations of sexual abuse made against a number of priests. In his resignation statement in 2002, Bishop Comiskey said: 'The sexual abuse of children is deeply abhorrent to me. I apologise also to the families of victims and to all others who have been offended or hurt in different ways by the late Father Sean Fortune. 'In endeavouring to deal with the complexity and conflict which always surrounded Fr Fortune, and already existed prior to my appointment as Bishop of Ferns in May 1984, I can only assure you that I did my best. Clearly this was not good enough. I found Father Fortune virtually impossible to deal with. 'I confronted him regularly; for a time I removed him from ministry; I sought professional advice in several quarters; I listened to the criticisms and the praise; I tried compassion and I tried firmness; treatment was sought and arranged - and yet I never managed to achieve any level of satisfactory outcome. 'Father Fortune committed very grave wrongs and hurt many people. Despite the difficulties he presented in management terms, I should have adopted a more informed and more concerted approach to any dealings with him and for this I ask forgiveness.'
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Disgraced former Bishop Brendan Comiskey dies aged 89
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 Sean Fortune had abused a number of children. The report found Comiskey's investigation into the rape of children by his clergy was "an inappropriate and inadequate response". It concluded that he had "failed to recognise the paramount need to protect children, as a matter of urgency, from potential abusers". Comiskey 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. He resigned following the airing of a ground-breaking BBC documentary Suing the Pope, which uncovered over 100 allegations of abuse against 21 priests stretching back as far as 1962. 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. Meanwhile, in his early career, Dr Comiskey was catapulted into senior leadership roles at a young age. He was seen as a leading light of the Irish church, young, handsome, articulate and outspoken. However, his inability to tackle clerical abuse and control notorious abusers such as Fr Fortune was to prove his downfall. But even before his spectacular resignation, the young bishop was caught up in controversy when Cardinal Cahal Daly was forced to deny that Bishop Comiskey had been held by police in Bangkok Airport after being found drunk and without his passport. He went to the US for treatment for alcoholism and came back in early 1996 to face down allegations asserting he 'did not consort with prostitutes' while on holiday in Thailand. Born on 13 August 1935 in Clontibret, Co Monaghan, he was ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on 25 June 1961. He became head of his order in Ireland and the UK when he was just 34. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1979 when he was 45 and shortly afterwards he was appointed to the Diocese of Ferns. He resigned in 2002 after the broadcast of the BBC documentary. In his statement announcing his resignation, Dr Comiskey admitted he found Fortune difficult to deal with. The notorious abuser later committed suicide while on bail in March 1999. Bishop Éamonn Walsh was installed as Apostolic Administrator in Ferns in 2002 in the wake of Bishop Comiskey's resignation and he implemented a new child protection policy which resulted in many more historic allegations of child sexual abuse being reported. An inquiry into clerical sexual abuse in Ferns was set up following the resignation of Bishop Comiskey. The October 2005 Ferns Report identified over 100 allegations of child sexual abuse between 1962 and 2002 against 21 priests including Fr Seán Fortune and Fr Jim Grennan. It strongly criticised the former bishops of Ferns, Donal Herlihy and Brendan Comiskey for their inability to deal with the allegations of sexual abuse made against a number of priests. In his resignation statement in 2002, Bishop Comiskey said: 'The sexual abuse of children is deeply abhorrent to me. I apologise also to the families of victims and to all others who have been offended or hurt in different ways by the late Father Sean Fortune. 'In endeavouring to deal with the complexity and conflict which always surrounded Fr Fortune, and already existed prior to my appointment as Bishop of Ferns in May 1984, I can only assure you that I did my best. Clearly this was not good enough. I found Father Fortune virtually impossible to deal with. 'I confronted him regularly; for a time I removed him from ministry; I sought professional advice in several quarters; I listened to the criticisms and the praise; I tried compassion and I tried firmness; treatment was sought and arranged - and yet I never managed to achieve any level of satisfactory outcome. 'Father Fortune committed very grave wrongs and hurt many people. Despite the difficulties he presented in management terms, I should have adopted a more informed and more concerted approach to any dealings with him and for this I ask forgiveness.'
