Archbishop calls for new abuse inquiry

The archbishop of Dublin, a leading voice for reform following Ireland’s Catholic Church sex abuse scandal, said yesterday the Irish Church is trying to rebuild even as he demands the full truth be told about the past.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin told a Vatican briefing he hoped an upcoming meeting in Dublin would show the world that the Irish Church is “alive and vital and anxious to set out on a path of renewal.”

But the 10-17 June congress is being held amid new revelations over how primate Cardinal Sean Brady handled the case of a serial abuser in the 1970s – fuelling new calls for his resignation.

In 1975, he helped take testimony from a 14-year-old boy abused by Father Brendan Smyth, a serial paedophile.

The boy told Brady and two other priests the names and addresses of five other boys and girls being abused by Smyth. All five said their parents never received warning from the Church. Police were never called. Brady apologised but won’t resign.

Calling for a full investigation, Archbishop Martin said: “I believe bringing the truth out helped. And I believe that should continue to ensure the people [can] see exactly what happened.

“It’s only then you learn the lessons.”