Saturdays jackpot is heading for... You finished yet Michelangelo? www.lottery.ie D Friday, November 27, 2009 METRO perversion of power and trust... Scarred by a litany of sex abuse scandals Paedophile: Fr Smyth THE latest report is the third clerical sex abuse scandal to rock the country in the past four years. Here are some of the most high- profile controversies: Fr Brendan Smyth: One of the first paedophile priest scandals in the Catholic Church in Ireland. He was convicted of more than 70 counts of sexually abusing 20 boys and girls over a 40-year period. Diocese of Ferns: In October 2005, revelations focused on Fr Sean Fortune, responsible for 26 assaults, Fr Donal Collins, a school principal, and Canon Martin Clancy, who fathered a child after raping a 14-year-old girl. An inquiry revealed bishops failed to protect children and garda did not keep records of abuse complaints. Ryan Report: In May, the report revealed the Catholic Church and the Government covered up almost four decades of sexual abuse and beatings by priests and nuns on thousands of children in State care and found a catalogue of sexual, physical and emotional torture inflicted on youngsters. Diocese of Cloyne: In March senior bishop John Magee stepped down from his post after an inquiry found his child protection policy inadequate and dangerous. Shock: Justice Minister Dermot Ahern at yesterdays press conference Priests were thought to be above the law Critical: Marie Collins, Maeve Lewis and Andrew Madden yesterday No apologies will suffice say bishopsTHE head of the Dublin Archdiocese last night said no words of apology would ever be sufficient for the horrifying abuse, as he branded the revelations revolting. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he was offering his shame and sorrow to survivors and claimed the Archdiocese had failed to recognise the theft of childhood. The senior cleric said the paedophile priests were devious in their attempts to excuse and deny sickening attacks. Archbishop Martin said the numbers of victims were likely to be much higher than known. As Archbishop of Dublin and as Diarmuid Martin, a man, I offer to each and every survivor my apology, my sorrow and my shame for what happened to them, he said. I am aware however that no words of apology will ever be sufficient. Archbishop Martin handed over more than 5,000 secret Church documents to the Commission in January last year, sparking a legal battle involving Cardinal Desmond Connell. The Cardinal tried to block the publication, claiming legal privilege and confidentiality. Archbishop Martin described excuses from priests at the centre of the scandals as at least a denial, and at worst, devious. He said the abuse was an affront to the priesthood. He also declined to be drawn on whether Cardinal Connell should step aside, but appealed to those involved to assess their behaviour. Cardinal Connell last night also asked for forgiveness and said he was distressed and bewildered that those in such a sacred position could be responsible for such heinous crimes. The abuse of children is an unspeakable crime, the frail 83- year-old added. THE scandalous report revealed priests escaped prosecution as garda believed they were untouchable. It found connivance between garda and the Church effectively stifled one complaint, ensured there was no investigation into another and also allowed a priest to leave the country. Ironically, the Commission said it would not have been aware of allegations made to garda had it not been for data in Church files. In particular, it criticised the handling of one case by former Garda Commissioner Daniel Costigan in the mid-1960s. It revealed he breached his duty by handing over details of a complaint against a priest known as Father Edmondus to Archbishop John McQuaid without carrying out a thorough investigation. The cleric was finally jailed almost four decades later. Fr Edmondus was not investigated despite photographic evidence of attacks on sick children in hospital, and no protocols were put in place to prevent another priest abusing his position. GARDA Commissioner Fachtna Murphy yesterday apologised for An Garda Sochnas failure to protect victims of clerical abuse. Mr Murphy said the report into the Dublin Archdiocese sexual abuse made for difficult and disturbing reading, adding that because of acts or omissions, individuals who sought assistance did not always receive the level of response or protection which any citizen in trouble is entitled to expect... I am deeply sorry that this occurred. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html32.html33.html34.html35.html