Priests again

[tommy.irene]

85 priests were accused of abuse - Catholic Church reviews

Bishop Philip Boyce was speaking as a review of the County Donegal diocese found "a significant level" of clerical abuse cases in past decades

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Six reports published by the Catholic Church in Ireland have revealed there were child abuse allegations against 85 priests across the dioceses.

The audits of child protection practices - two of NI dioceses - were conducted by the Church's National Board for Safeguarding Children.

They covered the period from 1975 until the present.

The bishop of Raphoe apologised for "poor judgements" in managing priests accused of "horrific acts of abuse".

Bishop Philip Boyce was speaking as a review of the County Donegal diocese found "a significant level" of clerical abuse cases in past decades.

[tommy.irene]

Report says 40 priests in Down and Connor accused of abuseThe review examined allegations of abuse from 1961 to 2011

An independent review has revealed that allegations of child abuse have been made against 40 priests in the Down and Connor diocese over the past 50 years.

Twenty of the priests concerned are still alive, and eight of those are currently under investigation.

The review was commissioned by the diocese and reported in October.

It examined how the diocese handled allegations of clerical abuse made over a 50-year period from 1961 to 2011.

Twenty of the priests against whom complaints and allegations were made, or suspicions raised, are now deceased.

Of the 20 priests who are still living, six remain in ministry following the satisfactory conclusion of civil and canonical investigations.

A further eight are 'out of ministry' while they are under investigation, two have been convicted of abuse, and four have retired.