Government nixes national inquiry into church child abuse

The Irish government has rejected calls for the Murphy Commission to investigate every diocese in Ireland for child abuse following the sensational findings in Wexford and Dublin and major revelations expected in the just concluded investigation into the Cloyne diocese.

Minister for Children Barry Andrews stated that “I’m not convinced the length of time and the expense would teach us any more than what we know already.”

However Fine Gael spokesman on children, Charlie Flanagan disagree strongly. Fine Gael is the main opposition party and is expected to form the next government.

“It is clear from the litany of horrors that have already been revealed that a full national audit of all Catholic dioceses is required,” he said.

The Murphy Commission was responsible for the investigation of clerical abuse in dioceses such as Ferns which covers Wexford, the Dublin Archdiocese and has just completed a similar investigation into the Cloyne diocese in Cork.

Flanagan made his remarks as the new report was being handed over to the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern on Thursday.

The Fine Gael spokesman said reflecting on “what we already know of Cloyne, Ferns and the Dublin Archdiocese and from the Murphy and Ryan report, the information which has emerged is too grave and the litany of abuse is too horrific for this to be avoided any longer.”

“The culture within the church which allowed this abuse must be exposed and its countless child victims must be heard,” he said.

“Fine Gael believes the remit of the Murphy commission could be extended to cover other dioceses in the country. The Director of Public Prosecutions must also be furnished with all appropriate information.

“The veil of secrecy which facilitated the continued suffering of children at the hands of paedophile priests must be lifted for good,” he added.

Details of the Cloyne report, which is approximately 400 pages in length are expected to emerge over the coming weeks.

It is not yet known exactly when the report will be published as the DPP may bring charges against one of the priests being investigated.