BISHOP OF WATERFORD AND LISMORE:CATHOLIC BISHOP of Waterford and Lismore William Lee said yesterday the Garda was not contacted by him for two years after he became aware of allegations of child sex abuse against a priest in the diocese, and that the priest was not removed from ministry for three years after he became aware of those complaints.
Last December he said that child protection policies in the diocese were “based on the practice of full co-operation with the statutory authorities”.
Yesterday, he described his own handling of the allegations of clerical child sex abuse in the diocese between 1993 and 1996 as “seriously inadequate”.
He admitted for the first time that he contacted the Garda about one priest in December 1995, two years after he was first made aware of complaints against the priest. He also said he did not remove the priest from ministry until February 1996.
Since then the priest “has not been permitted to exercise any form of ministry”.
Bishop Lee expressed regret yesterday “that I had not sought the immediate withdrawal of the priest from all ministry and that others associated with the new ministry were not informed that allegations had been made”.
The statement issued by his communications office on December 8th last referred to two priests who had allegations made against them. It said “each priest was the subject of one complaint and, after investigation by the Garda, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to initiate a prosecution”. It assured people in the diocese that all the bishop’s decisions “were taken after most careful deliberation including ongoing consultation with, and favourable recommendations from, the Diocesan Advisory Panel.” It also assured people “that the church’s policy of safeguarding children in Ireland is fully in place and implemented in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore” and that “the HSE considers that it enjoys a trustful and professional relationship with our diocese”.
Yesterday, Bishop Lee spoke of “the inadequacies” in his handling of the cases referred to.
Explaining his volte face when it came to contacting the Garda about the December 1993 case and eventual removal of the priest from ministry, he said that “in October 1995, having had the benefit of the guidance then emerging from the Bishops’ advisory committee on child sexual abuse, I reviewed my earlier decisions in the case and concluded that these had been seriously inadequate.”
He “set about initiating a full review of the case. I renewed contact with the complainants and advised them of the policy with regard to reporting such complaints to the Garda which it was anticipated would be adopted by the episcopal conference in January 1996. With their knowledge I reported their complaints to the Garda in December 1995.”
He arranged that the priest be reassessed at a new treatment centre. “On this occasion the advice offered led me to decide to bring about the withdrawal of the priest in question from ministry. I also appraised those associated with the new ministry that allegations had been received. Further complaints were received about the same priest in January 1996,” he said.
These were “immediately notified to the Garda”. The priest “has not been permitted to exercise any form of ministry since February 1996. Regular contact has been maintained with him and he is the subject of ongoing supervision.”
Bishop Lee concluded his statement yesterday by saying: “I sincerely apologise and am deeply sorry for the inadequacies of my earlier actions in this case.”