People of Galway want Casey to return - poll

More than three quarters of people in the Galway believe the former Catholic Bishop, Dr Eamonn Casey, should be allowed to return to the diocese in some capacity.

A mere seven per cent of the 400 people polled by TG4/MRBI for a survey released tonight said he should not return in any circumstances. A further 16 per cent didn't know or had no opinion.

Nearly half, or 46 per cent, said they would like to see the former bishop return to retire. 19 per cent of those interviewed favoured his return as a priest, 11 per cent approved of him returning as a Bishop and two per cent were in favour in other circumstances.

Bishop Casey was exiled to South America in 1992 after admitting he had fathered a child by Ms Annie Murphy and that he had used diocesan funds to help pay for their support.

Over 50 per cent of respondents said Dr Casey should not be forced to explain his past actions and behaviour, against 35 per cent who said he should. Of those who said he had questions to face, most felt his financial affairs rather than his romantic encounters required explanation.

In ranking the most serious elements of his conduct, 37 per cent cited the use of Church funds, while the treatment of his son Peter was next at 15 per cent, with the secrecy of his relationship with Ms Murphy at 13 per cent.

The survey also found that a massive 82 per cent of people were in favour of allowing priests to marry, with 77 per cent supporting the ordination of women as priests. Bringing laicised priests back into the Church to serve in other ways was approved by 79 per cent.