In a brief statement yesterday, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Walton Empey, said he had been offered a "sincere apology" by Cardinal Connell for remarks made about him.

He said he accepted the apology in the spirit in which it was made and that he now considered the matter closed.

Archbishop Empey's full statement read:

"His Eminence Desmond Cardinal Connell has offered me his sincere apology.

"I have accepted his apology in the spirit in which it was offered and the matter is now closed as far as I am concerned".