Approximately 100 lay Catholics took part in a one-hour protest outside the residence of the Catholic primate, Archbishop Seán Brady, in Armagh yesterday.
Calling for justice for priests "victimised by bishops" because they expressed concern about inappropriate behaviour by other clergy, the group handed in a letter for Dr Brady, with whom they are seeking a meeting.
They carried placards reading: "We will not accept any more injustice from the bishops in the light of recent disclosures" and "Justice for all priests who protect youth". Group spokesman Roger Kennedy, from Cashel, Co Tipperary, said they travelled to Armagh from all over Ireland, with some journeying by a bus from Limerick and picking up people on the way.
"We seek justice immediately, particularly for Fr Gerard McGinnity who has suffered so much for over 20 years.
"We have read and heard his story and we will continue to demonstrate until we can see that reparation has been made for the damage done to him," he said.
He continued: "We invite all good priests victimised by their bishops in a similar way to come forward."
Fr McGinnity was removed as senior dean at Maynooth in 1984 when he tried to alert the college's bishop/trustees to concerns of senior seminarians about the behaviour of Mgr Miceál Ledwith, college vice-president.
Mr Kennedy said yesterday's protesters were not connected with the House of Prayer on Achill, where Fr McGinnity is spiritual director. "Possibly some are," he added, but most were, like himself, "ordinary people".
Meanwhile, a statement from Elphin diocese has confirmed a report yesterday that the bishop, Dr Christopher Jones, was informed in September 2002 by a US diocese of allegations against an Elphin priest. It continued, however, that at the time, "there was not sufficient information upon which to implement our civil authorities reporting policy". The priest, a relative of Bishop Jones, served in Los Angeles between 1957and 1965.
He was accused of "inappropriate conduct with a minor". He denied the allegation. Last September the priest was named on a website, and signed documents detailing two complaints against him were sent to Elphin by the archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Two meetings with the HSE took place, and they advised the priest should stand aside. Gardaí were informed and in a statement on October 29th last Bishop Jones announced that the priest had agreed to stand down from ministry. Allegations of child sex abuse have been made against nine Elphin priests, none of whom are in ministry.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Clogher diocese has clarified that five allegations of clerical child sex abuse have been made there over the past 20 years. To give more detailed information with such a small number would be to target people, he said, but that there were not five priests involved. Last Saturday a priest there stood aside from ministry as a PSNI investigation into allegations against him continues.