DOWN AND CONNOR - AN ABUSIVE ECCLESIASTICAL SYSTEM?
TODAY in the local newspaper THE DOWN RECORDER Crossgar priest Father Paddy McCafferty calls for more help for victims of sexual abuse who suffered in what he calls: "a corrupt and dysfunctional ecclesiastical system.
Father McCafferty, as a seminarian, was a victim of Father James Donaghy, who is still serving a prison sentence for his abuse of Patrick and at least 3 other victims.
I have never spoken to Father Paddy but I know from those who have that he has suffered very greatly and that his abuse has had a devastating effect upon his life.
Father Donaghy |
I have never spoken to Father Paddy but I know from those who have that he has suffered very greatly and that his abuse has had a devastating effect upon his life.
Paddy as younger man |
Father Donaghy was sentenced to 10 years in Prison in February 2012 and is expected to be released from prison in about 10 months time.
The abuse of Father Paddy and the others happened during the time that PADDY WALSH was Bishop of Down and Connor.
The abuse of Father Paddy and the others happened during the time that PADDY WALSH was Bishop of Down and Connor.
Paddy Walsh |
However when the national safeguarding agency conducted it's enquiry into sex abuse in Down and Connor it was under NOEL TREANOR'S watch - and amazingly the abuse by Father Donaghy was not included in the "thorough" report.
That led to the massive row between Bishop Noel Treanor and the report supremo - Mr Ian Elliott. Bishop Walsh then made a complaint about Mr Elliott - which was totally refuted and resulted in Bishop Treanor having to publicly apologise to Mr Elliott.
I have not read, in full, Father Paddy's letter to THE IRISH CATHOLIC which gave rise to today's front page article in THE DOWN RECORDER.
I know that Father Paddy has been very critical of Bishop Walsh in the past.
However I do not know if he regarded / regards the Diocese of Down and Connor has having been / or being "a corrupt and dysfunctional ecclesial community"?
I was deeply involved with one of Father Donaghy's other victims who has come to be know as "VICTIM A" and with his family and with trying to get Bishop Walsh act against Father Donaghy.
In fact VICTIM A's family had their first meeting with the police her at The Oratory in Larne on the 4th January 2003 - 12 years ago. Below I reproduce the notes of that meeting which were given to the police:
1. VICTIM A has been living with Father Jim Donaghy of Bangor since he was 14/15. Most people who know of the situation fear the situation is sexual. VICTIM A's father points out that his son was under age.
2. VICTIM A's father says that his son has changed completely and fears that his son is somehow entrapped.
3. VICTIM A's father is also concerned about his other children as Father Donaghy regularly visits the marital home.
4. VICTIM A's father says that a Down and Connor seminarian who is not related to him is also visiting the parochial house and that Father Donaghy is plying his son and the seminarian with alcohol. VICTIM A's father has also been made aware that Father Donaghy attempted to seduce the seminarian.
5. Father Donaghy is spending thousands of pounds on VICTIM A which includes regular trips to London, gym membership of an expensive Belfast hotel, computers, designer clothing etc.
6. Father Donaghy has told VICTIM A's father that he could talk to Bishop Walsh but that the bishop would believe a parish priest over a layman.
7. Father Donaghy has told VICTIM A's family that he has big connections in the police and that he will get no where with the police.
I have a great deal of correspondence between myself and Bishop Walsh about this case - and indeed copies of Bishop Walsh's correspondence with VICTIM A's family.
I understand that this particular case is in the past and that Father Donaghy is paying by imprisonment for what he did.
I also understand that various people are trying to get on with their lives and trying to make a future.
The REALLY IMPORTANT thing is that things like this - or similar things - will not happen in the future.
That means that ALL DIOCESES - including Down and Connor - must not be, to use Father McCafferty's term: "corrupt and dysfunctional ecclesiastical systems".
The abuse of children is a horrific abuse and corruption.
But so is the abuse of vulnerable adults - be they men or women.
We would quite rightly be horrified if Father James Donaghy was to be returned to ministry in the diocese when he leaves prison next February.