The Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce, has stated categorically that he was not made aware of child sexual allegations against a priest in his diocese whose paedophile activities went undetected for 35 years.
Dr Boyce issued a statement yesterday in response to a claim in a BBC Northern Ireland programme last night that he was told in 1995 about complaints of child sexual abuse against Father Eugene Greene, who remained in active ministry until 1998.
The Spotlight programme spoke to victims of the 73-year-old priest, who was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in 2000 for a litany of charges of sexual assault against 26 children in Donegal parishes between 1965 and 1982.
It reported that on at least five occasions dating back to 1971 senior priests in the diocese were made aware of allegations or complaints against Father Greene, but that gardaí were told by the diocese that nothing of these has been recorded in its files.
Dr Boyce's statement said: "I wish to categorically state that I was not made aware of child sexual allegations against Father Greene in 1995. I was ordained Bishop in October 1995. Some time later I was made aware of rumours about Father Greene. Despite my personal inquiries, which included a number of meetings, I was unable to identify any complaint of child sexual abuse against him. I was first made aware of a child sexual abuse allegation against Father Greene in 1998 - by the Gardaí."
A statement issued more than a week ago by Dr Boyce to the Spotlight programme was also released yesterday, in which he provided further details.
Dr Boyce said that approximately one year after he was ordained Bishop of Raphoe in October 1995 "I became aware of an unease among people concerning Father Greene and children in the parish where he lived in retirement.
"I met with the parish priest and a schoolteacher, but they were unable to identify any specific complaint. I was unable to get any confirmation of what substance lay behind these rumours. I made further inquiries in the last parish in which he ministered, but again no complaints were forthcoming.
"I first became aware through the Garda investigation in 1998 that a complaint had been made to a parish priest, now deceased. Unfortunately, there is no record of this complaint having been received by any bishop."
Dr Boyce said the priest's alcohol problem was a matter of concern in the diocese. He was removed from office on September 1st, 1994, and resigned as parish priest three weeks later because of the effects of excessive drinking on his health.
Dr Boyce said that since 1980 Father Greene had been in regular contact with various houses of therapy for his drink problem.
"Bishop Hegarty who accepted his resignation in 1994 assured me that he resigned on account of the effects of alcoholism," he added.
Dr Boyce expressed his "pain and deep regret to all who suffered from this abuse, not only to the victims themselves but also to their families and friends and to the parish communities that have suffered . . .
"I see no pastoral purpose in reopening wounds in the hearts and memories of those who have suffered . . ."