Independent auditor to be given Church files

An independent auditor will be appointed by the Catholic Church as part of its response to clerical sex abuse.

Speaking at a press conference after a special meeting of the country’s Catholic bishops, the Archbishop of Armagh Seán Brady, said the Church would supply "all relevant information" to the independent auditors and "co-operate fully" with State investigators.

Archbishop Brady, reading from a statement from the Bishops, said the allegations had caused great pain and shame to the Church and that "getting at the truth" would be the Church's priority.

The decision was prompted by the "justifiable anger and distress" of victims of clerical sexual abuse.

"These measures are practical concrete steps in our continuing efforts to help victims," the statement read. "Child abuse leaves deep scars on victims and we want to help victims heal the scars. Knowing the truth is part of this healing."

The terms of reference for the audit were being drawn up and would be announced shortly, Dr Brady added, while a decision on who would carry out the audit will also be made in the near future.

However, both Dr Brady and Cardinal Desmond Connell refused to answer questions from journalists on exactly how many members of the clergy were being investigated for sexual abuse.

"To comment on individual cases would not be helpful," Dr Connell insisted.

He said the issue of clerical sexual abuse had "devastated" his period of office, and that he personally had "suffered greatly from the whole question".

"When you are dealing with paedophiles you are dealing with people who are lying through their teeth," Dr Connell said.

"I do understand how people have been devastated by what has happened," the Cardinal continued. "But my goodness, I have tried and I have striven to do what I could."

The extraordinary general meeting at St Patrick's College in Maynooth, follows last Monday’s resignation of the Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey who was accused of failing to take appropriate action to protect alleged victims of child abuse.

Today's meeting was hosted by the Primate and president of the Irish Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Seán Brady, and the vice-president of the conference, Cardinal Desmond Connell.

• Full text of Bishops' Statement