The High Court has approved the biggest single settlement yet reached over a case of sex abuse by a Catholic priest.
In a linked move, Archbishop of Dublin Cardinal Desmond Connell, issued a public apology to the now 28-year-old victim of the abuse, which happened in a Dublin parish nearly 18 years ago.
The sum involved in the agreed compensation settlement was not formally disclosed but is believed to amount to more than €300,000.
The victim, Mr Mervyn Rundle, was nine years old when he was abused by Fr Thomas Naughton, then serving in the Donnycarney district of Dublin, in a church where Mr Rundle was an altar boy.
Fr Naughton was jailed for three years for the offence in 1998. At his trial, Fr Naughton was said to have sexually abused children throughout the 1980s in three Dublin parishes. Complaints were regularly made to the diocesan authorities in Dublin, but no action was taken.
Cardinal Connell's handling of the case, together with his treatment of other cases, has prompted calls for him to step down from his position as archbishop.
Today, in a statement issued as part of the agreed settlement to Mr Rundle, Dr Connell said he profoundly regretted the injury caused by Fr Naughton and personally apologised to Mr Rundle and his family.
He acknowledged that Mr Rundle was grievously injured by the abuse which had devastating consequences for him, and also caused distress to his family.
He noted that before the abuse occurred, concerns had emerged about the conduct of Fr Naughton, which, had they been "more successfully pursued," could have resulted in the priest being withdrawn from parochial duties.
The Cardinal said he hoped the church would learn from the Rundle case.
Cardinal Connell had issued a statement after Fr Naughton's conviction, offering his pastoral support to those who had suffered as a result of the priest's activities.
PA