The same old story

[Pangurban]

As Cardinal O Connel former head of the Dublin diocese, seeks and obtains a court injuction to prevent the commission charged with investigating child abuse within the diocese, having sight of diocesan records, the question must be asked, What value can be placed on the promises of new openness and transparency. Which has the greater priority, the protection of children, or the protection of the institution. What is it he wishes to remain hidden. Why does the Archbishop who has succeeded him in the diocese see no reason why the documents should not be handed over and indeed was happy to do so. Will the other Bishops support Cardinal O Connell, and if so why. I think the laity are entitled to an explanation, as are the victims of abuse, not to mention the vast majority of decent hard -working priests whose lives are being made more difficult by their superiors failure to behave respons ibly and openly. What say you.

[ziggysego]

I thought these days were behind us when the Catholic Church in Ireland tried to cover up these things.

I guess not and that just makes me sad...

[Orior]

Has he prevented it happening?

The church is the people and the people are the church, so how can he stop the people having sight of the records?

[pintsofguinness]

How would  diocesan records help with the investigation anyway?

[Zapatista]

This is "Par for the course" in the the powers of Irish society. There are many investigation being hindered by those whom are being investigated, be it certain Clergy, Politicians or Police. These are the leaders in our society and our lack of disgust and anger allows this to happen time after time. Our selfish concerns and "it's not my problem" and "ach sure wouldn't you be at it yourself" attitude is sickening. It's about time the public copped on and made these people accountable as they will never be accountable to themselves.

[guy crouchback]

How would  diocesan records help with the investigation anyway?

not an expert on this but according to last nights prime time some of the records are vital as they show that the church knew that particular priests had been accused of various act are were still moved to different parishes.

[AZOffaly]

Lads, I think ye are jumping the gun here. Cardinal O'Connell is the EX-archbishop and is trying in a personal capacity to get the records locked, because he feels he could be compromised personally by their revelation. He claims that there is private legal advice etc. in them. I think it's more likely that whatever is in there will make him out to be a liar to be honest.

The Church, under CURRENT archbishop, Diarmuid Martin, is in favour of these records being opened. Martin has said that he feels that this is integral to the investigation.

[his holiness nb]

Lads, I think ye are jumping the gun here. Cardinal O'Connell is the EX-archbishop and is trying in a personal capacity to get the records locked, because he feels he could be compromised personally by their revelation. He claims that there is private legal advice etc. in them. I think it's more likely that whatever is in there will make him out to be a liar to be honest.

The Church, under CURRENT archbishop, Diarmuid Martin, is in favour of these records being opened. Martin has said that he feels that this is integral to the investigation.

Agree with AZ, its one indivual doing this, despite attempts to suggest otherwise with comments like "Will the other Bishops support Cardinal O Connell, and if so why?"

Its a big jump to presume the current bishops support individual actions of an EX-archbishop, so I'd suggest you wait for confirmation of this before asking why?

Keep the "why" until you know for a fact there is a reason to ask it.

[ziggysego]

Bishop of Dublin Dr Eamonn Walsh has said the Archdiocese will co-operate fully with the Commission of Inquiry into clerical child sexual abuse.

Dr Walsh was commenting after it emerged that lawyers for the former Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell, had sought to stop the Archdiocese handing over certain legal documents to the commission.

Dr Eamon Walsh said 'wherever lawyers are involved, you will always be entering into a legal minefield'.

He said he was surprised at suggestions, and what he called spin, that there was a conflict between Diarmuid Martin and Cardinal Connell over the matter. Adding that there is a very warm, friendly and cordial relationship between the two men.

This matter is about legal issues, not personalities according to the Catholic Bishop of Dublin.

He said his first thought when he heard the news last night was for the people who were abused by clergy in the past.

He said the truth must be established so that victims can sense that they were heard and believed.

He said the inquiry must bring victims another step along the road of getting as peaceful a life as possible.

Legal dispute

Some 5,000 documents are at the centre of the legal dispute between Cardinal Desmond Connell and a judicial inquiry into the handling of complaints that Catholic clergy abused children.

Yesterday, Cardinal Connell initiated High Court proceedings to try to prevent documents handed over by his successor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, being examined by the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation.

Archbishop Martin has said he is willing to give up the exemption from legal inspection that the documents enjoy. But the Cardinal is asserting his claims that they are privileged or protected by solicitor-client confidentiality.

It is understood the documents relate to legal advice following claims of child sexual abuse, as well as insurance policies in relation to such claims.

Yesterday in the High Court Cardinal Connell's solicitor revealed that his anxious client had challenged Archbishop Martin's 'tell all' approach to the Commission of Inquiry into their diocese.

The court heard that, through their lawyers, the Cardinal had told the Archbishop of his displeasure when it was noticed that the commission had a document that Dr Connell considered exempt from inspection.

The document came to light last October while the Cardinal was giving evidence to Judge Yvonne Murphy's Commission.

Now it has emerged that Archbishop Martin has told Judge Murphy that he is willing to waive the privilege attaching to about 5,000, or one in 12, of the documents the commission ordered him to hand over.

A major plank in the Cardinal's case is that he is the person entitled to assert and maintain legal privilege over many of the documents because it was he who received the advice.

Sourced RTÉ.ie: http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0201/church.html