READ MORE- Ex-bishop of Cloyne may have to testify in court

Eight cases concerning a pedophile priest in County Cork accused of raping young girls have been sent back to authorities there after originally being rejected.

All of the files relate to abuse allegations alleged to have been carried out by Father B, a cleric who assaulted and raped girls in North Cork.

The diocese of Cloyne and its former bishop John Magee are already under separate investigations for harboring pedophile priests.

Magee was Secretary to three popes and was a leading figure in the Irish church until the pedophile investigations began. Opponents claim he used his clout to block investigations

In recent years  prosecutors rejected the new case files separately, despite the fact that they all have marked similarities.

Last autumn, the latest two files were returned and as a result, the victims mounted a public campaign questioning why their criminal cases had been denied a trial.

Some of the woman whose files were returned have received compensation from the diocese and written apologies.

"The archbishop has repeatedly said that if there are any more victims out there, they should come forward and lodge complaints.

"Our fear is that if they hear of all these cases being rejected, they won’t see the point of going to the gardaí," one victim told the Irish Examiner.

Another file also alleging abuse by Father B is currently under review at the office of the prosecutor.

The Rape Crisis Center has urged the prosecutor to meet with victims in Cloyne to discuss his decision not to prosecute their cases.