Latest news with #EamonnCasey
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Decision to remove Eamonn Casey's remains came in response to furore over documentary last year
It is unusual for church authorities anywhere to disturb the remains of the deceased, not least a deceased bishop. The decision by diocesan authorities in Galway to remove the remains of Bishop Eamonn Casey from the crypt in Galway Cathedral to the care of his family is thus a rare event – and the length of time it took to reach it shows how delicate it was. The decision came in response to the furore which followed the broadcasting a year ago by RTÉ One of the documentary, Bishop Casey's Buried Secrets , made in association with the Irish Mail on Sunday newspaper. It recalled how four people independently accused Bishop Casey of child sexual abuse and a separate child safeguarding concern was also recorded against him. The significant public reaction led to the diocese commencing a period of consultation on what to do. The explanation given for the removal of the remains from the crypt at Galway Cathedral was somewhat opaque. 'Significant consensus emerged around the unique role of a cathedral as a place of unity rather than division, healing rather than hurt and peace rather than disquiet,' said a short statement from Galway's diocesan authorities on Saturday. And so Casey's remains were removed to the care of his family. The statement noted how 'the continued resting of the mortal remains of Bishop Eamonn Casey in the crypt of the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway, was a deeply felt matter that affected many people in different ways'. READ MORE It referred to another statement issued by the diocese in July last year, following the programme, when it appealed 'for time and space' to allow 'for appropriate reflection and consultation' on the issue. [ Garda will not reopen Bishop Eamonn Casey investigation Opens in new window ] The documentary included an interview with Bishop Casey's niece , Patricia Donovan. In her first television interview, she outlined in detail the abuse allegations she first made against Casey in November 2005. These were investigated by gardaí at the time – who questioned Casey – but no charges were brought. Casey, who fathered a child with Annie Murphy in the early 1970s, denied all accusations of child sexual abuse made against him. Before he died in 2017 it was known that he faced such allegations involving three girls. An Garda Síochána and the church authorities were notified by the Limerick diocese after it received the complaints in 2001, 2005, and 2014. One involved Ms Donovan, another involved the late Ellen Murphy, and the identity of the third woman has not been revealed. After his death another woman made an allegation of child sex abuse against him, and a child safeguarding matter concerning him also came to light. [ Bishop Eamonn Casey's remains removed from Galway cathedral Opens in new window ] The programme disclosed that Ms Murphy alleged Casey abused her in the 1950s when she was 15 and at St Joseph's reformatory in Limerick, where he was chaplain. In 2001 she initiated High Court proceedings against him and also applied to the Redress Board, set up to compensate people who had been in residential institutions as children. She received €40,000 in redress and dropped her High Court action. She made no formal complaint to the gardaí about her alleged abuse by Casey. In 2019, two years after Casey died, Limerick diocese paid €100,000 to a woman over alleged abuse by Casey when he was curate at St John's Cathedral in Limerick between 1955 and 1960. Canon lawyer Fr Aidan McGrath told the programme that 'disciplinary measures' had been taken by the Vatican where Casey was concerned. 'Whether they were punitive or not, I would doubt it. An allegation, ultimately, until there's evidence to back it up, is not proof. Until he's proven guilty of something he's given the benefit of the doubt. And it looks as if that's what happened,' he said. However, for most of his later years Casey was suspended from public ministry by the Vatican. His funeral Mass at Galway Cathedral in March 2017 was concelebrated by 11 bishops and 61 priests with more than 1,600 people in attendance, including President Michael D Higgins.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Garda will not reopen Bishop Eamonn Casey investigation
Gardaí have opted not to reopen the investigation into the late Bishop of Galway Eamonn Casey who had been accused of sexually abusing multiple children. The Garda confirmed the move in a statement on Sunday, shortly after it emerged that the bishop's remains had been removed from the crypt at the cathedral in Galway and returned to his family for reinterment. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had requested the Garda National Protective Services Bureau conduct a review of the original investigation into the allegations last year. This followed the broadcast of an RTÉ documentary in 2024, made in association with the Irish Mail on Sunday, examining the Catholic Church's handling of sexual abuse allegations against the former Bishop of Galway. It included an interview with one of the former bishop's accusers, his niece Patricia Donovan, who stated that her uncle first raped her when she was just five years old. She claimed that the sexual abuse continued for years. In recent years it emerged that five people had complained of being sexually abused by Bishop Casey when they were children. Bishop Casey died in 2017 at the age of 89. 'At the request of the Garda Commissioner, the Garda National Protective Services Bureau conducted a review of the original investigation file,' the Garda said. 'This review has been completed and no further investigative actions have been identified.' On Saturday, the Galway diocese said that 'with the assent and co-operation of members of the late Bishop Eamonn's family and following prayers for the dead, his mortal remains have been moved from the Cathedral Crypt and entrusted to their care. 'It is their express wish that the arrangements they have made for Bishop Eamonn's final resting place remain private.' It added that 'members of Bishop Eamonn's family involved ask that their earnest desire for privacy be respected at this time'. In its statement, the diocese of Galway recalled how following the documentary last July it had issued a statement noting that the continued resting of the mortal remains of Bishop Casey in the crypt of the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway, was a deeply felt matter that affected many people in different ways. It had appealed then 'for time and space' to allow for 'appropriate reflection and consultation'. In its statement at the weekend the diocese said it 'would like to thank everyone for their understanding of the situation, for their patience and for their respect as this process was undertaken and brought to a conclusion. 'Significant consensus emerged around the unique role of a Cathedral as a place of unity rather than division, healing rather than hurt and peace rather than disquiet.' Bishop Casey served as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh from 1976 until 1992, when he stepped down after it emerged that he had fathered a child with an American woman, Annie Murphy , in 1974.
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
No further investigation into Bishop Eamonn Casey following garda review
GARDAÍ WILL NOT be taking any further investigative actions following a review of the original file on Bishop Eamonn Casey. The review was conducted by the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) at the request of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in the wake of the documentary 'Bishop Casey's Secrets' last year, in which Casey was described as a sexual predator. The programme examined the Catholic Church's handling of abuse allegations made against Casey, who died in 2017 aged 87. Multiple allegations of child sex abuse were made against Casey. The programme included an interview with his niece, Patricia Donovan, who claimed he first raped her at the age of five and that the sexual abuse continued for years. Advertisement Casey denied allegations of child sexual abuse made against him during his life, and though complaints were reported to An Garda Síochana, he was never charged with any sexual crimes. A garda spokesperson today confirmed that the following the GNSB review of the original investigation file on Casey, 'no further investigative actions have been identified'. It comes after the remains of the disgraced Bishop were removed from the Cathedral crypt in Galway and were entrusted to the care of his family. The Galway Diocesan Office yesterday said that they would like to thank people for their understanding and patience while the process to decide what action should be carried out was underway. 'Significant consensus emerged around the unique role of a Cathedral as a place of unity rather than division, healing rather than hurt and peace rather than disquiet,' the office said. The documentary on Casey also revealed how a six-figure settlement was paid by the Catholic Church to one complainant after Casey's deatg, and that the Vatican had banned Casey from public ministry in 2007 following 'allegations'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Bishop Eamonn Casey: Gardaí taking no further investigative action
A review into the original investigation file on Bishop Eamonn Casey has been completed and no further investigative actions have been identified, An Garda Síochána (Irish police) have comes as his remains were removed from the crypt of Galway served as bishop of Galway from 1976 to 1992, and died in allegations of child sexual abuse have been made against him, including by his niece. In a statement, An Garda Síochána said the the Garda National Protective Services Bureau conducted a review of the original investigation file on Bishop Casey, at the request of the Garda Commissioner."This review has been completed and no further investigative actions have been identified."Bishop Casey is the first senior cleric to be disinterred in Ireland following posthumous concerns about his conduct, according to Irish national broadcaster RTÉ.It is not clear when the disinterment took place but the Galway Diocese confirmed that the remains are with his a statement, the Galway Diocese thanked everyone "for their understanding of the situation, for their patience and for their respect as this process was undertaken and brought to a conclusion".
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
No further investigation into Bishop Eamonn Casey
A review by the Garda National Protective Services Bureau into the original investigation file on Bishop Eamonn Casey has been completed and no further investigative actions have been identified. The confirmation comes following an announcement by the Galway Diocese that the remains of the late bishop have been removed from the crypt of Galway Cathedral. Following the broadcast of the documentary 'Bishop Casey's Secrets' last year, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris requested that the Garda National Protective Services Bureau examine the original investigation file into Bishop Eamonn Casey. Gardaí have confirmed that the review has been completed and no further investigative actions have been identified. Residential Institutions Survivors Network spokesperson William Gorry said the news of Bishop Casey's removal from the crypt brought memories back for abuse survivors of their treatment by the Catholic Church. Mr Gorry said he had been fielding calls from other survivors who he said found it "sick" to see "privacy and quiet" surrounding the removal of Bishop Casey's remains. The former Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin acknowledged that today would be difficult in respect of the family and those who have suffered. He noted that the Bishop of Galway promised to investigate the matter and it was obvious that a lot of consultation was done. He added that the statement issued by the Galway Diocese was "thoughtful and sensible".
