two things stood out as i read through the irish times today.

dozens sympathise with sex offender

about 50 people, mostly middle-aged and elderly men, queued yesterday to shake hands with the convicted man and hug him tearfully after he was brought from the cell to the dock, before judge mcdonagh entered the courtroom.

before passing sentence, the judge criticised a character statement made by castlegregory parish priest fr seán sheehy. the priest had said foley was always “respectful of women”, but foley’s actions “gave the lie” to fr sheehy’s statement, the judge said. (link)

five serving bishops mentioned in report

the bishop of limerick, who resigned today, was one of five serving bishops criticised in the dublin diocesan report for their handling of cases of abuse in the dublin diocese between 1975 and 2004.

there can be no doubt that of the five bishops who – up until this morning were still in office – and who were dealt with in the report, the most vulnerable was the bishop of limerick, donal murray.

this vulnerability was added to when the family of a man who alleged abuse, and who died tragically in 2006 following a meeting with representatives of limerick’s catholic diocese, called for his resignation.

peter mccloskey (37) was found dead on april 1st, 2006, two days after mediation talks with diocesan representatives. his brother joseph said he had been “devastated” by the mediation process with the diocese. (link)