AN INTERNAL Garda inquiry has been ordered into why a Wexford based Catholic priest was not prosecuted for alleged sexual abuse despite strong evidence being given to the Garda Siochana.
The Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan, has appointed a superintendent to examine the case in Monageer, Co Wexford, where the priest, who has since died, was accused of abusing several primary school girls on the altar of his church while giving them confirmation instruction.
A retired Garda sergeant who investigated the claims in 1988 has said he took statements from the seven girls, aged 11 and 12, detailing the abuse by Father Jim Grennan in Monageer, near Enniscorthy. Sgt Jim Reynolds told The Irish Times that the abuse was serious, but that no prosecution followed.
Yesterday the Garda, Press Office confirmed the inquiry. "We are looking into the circumstances surrounding the investigation. We are examining the different aspects to see if it was properly carried out. A report will be made to the Commissioner, a spokesman said.
The office has said previously that the decision not to proceed with the investigation was taken "by local Garda management". The file on the investigation is now apparently missing. Sgt Reynolds said he had been contacted by local gardai recently, asking if he knew of its whereabouts.
Supt Dermot Dwyer, stationed in Cork, has spent the last few days in Wexford speaking to people involved.
Last night the mother of one of the girls who had been abused welcomed the internal Garda, investigation. "This has been going on a long time and we would like to get to the bottom of what did happen. We would also like to know where the file is," said Mrs Josie Gahan.
Mr Garry O'Halloran, a member of the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB), also welcomed the investigation. Mr O'Halloran, a Fine Gael councillor, first asked for an inquiry into the sex abuse case in November last year at an SEHB meeting.
He wrote to the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, last week asking for a Garda inquiry into the matter. His letter explained that the schoolgirls' complaints were investigated by the SEHB, and then validated. The Garda was informed by the SEHB.
Mr O'Halloran explained that, as part of the investigation, statements were taken by retired Sgt Reynolds, and serving Garda Donal Behan. "Both of these officers said that there was ample evidence to prosecute."
Mr O'Halloran said in his letter to the Garda Commissioner that a Wexford garda had visited Father Grennan after the abuse of the schoolgirls was reported. "The garda was instructed to personally call to Father Grennan and request that he leave the parish, with the caveat that if he refused he would be arrested."
Father Grennan did leave the parish, but returned some weeks later for the confirmation ceremony of the schoolgirls he had abused. The Gahan parents, shocked at the reappearance of Father Grennan, left the church in protest. Dr Brendan Comiskey, Bishop of Ferns, officiated at the ceremony.
Sgt Reynolds has said that after he spoke to the girls he was instructed to immediately send the handwritten statements to Garda headquarters in Wexford without typing them up and making a copy, as was normal procedure. He was also told not to include a separate report on the case.
A copy of the SEHB report was sent to Dr Comiskey when he wrote requesting it. According to the board's chief executive officer, Mr John Cooney, they had informed the bishop of the allegations because he was manager of the school, and the priest's superior.