Rome’s offering

dublin | crime and justice | news report

Tuesday February 23, 2010 19:42

by John of the Ayres Family

Sadness, depression and devastation

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin met with survivors of abuse to respond to their letter addressed to the Pope.

Marie Collins, Meave Lewis and Andrew Madden, at the Bishops Palace

Following on from the EGM in Maynooth last month, survivors had sent letters to the pope for his response. Unfortunately there was little in the way of a response. The survivors that attended the meeting with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin were bitterly disappointed with the answers they did receive.

The pain of disappointment was evident in the faces of those that gave interviews after the meeting.

Kevin Flanagan was again out to protest at the Bishops not being charged for ‘with holding information’; It’s a crime to cover up a crime. He again asked Archbishop Duirmaid Martin to state that “it is a criminal offence to with hold information and the bishops should be charged”. The Archbishop replied “the evaluation of crime is for the Garda”.

I asked Duirmaid Martin “was there any new mechanics to move the process on”. He said “these were the survivors of Dublin abuse, and Maynooth was about the survivors of institutions, we didn’t discus that; at the next meeting we’ll probably come to a more detailed discussion”.

I went on to say that “the abuse has been going on for over 80 years now in Ireland, a lot of people had suffered”, Duirmaid Martin adding that “it had gone on much longer… much longer”. “There has to be accountability” I continued “as to what has happened and the church must be making that progress and that process”, I was interrupted before I could finish my sentence when Archbishop Duirmaid Martin uttered “I try it every day if I can, everyday”. "So what mechanics do you think will help to make this process work?" I replied. He answered, “There’s a group of bishops who are dealing with … dialoguing with the victims……….. and survivors of institutional abuse”.

The process of dialogue continues; the price of talk is cheap. The church is at a stand still. Action speaks louder than words.

The only mechanics I can think of to make the process work is to have an International Criminal Investigation of all the dioceses and parishes in Ireland.
It can no longer be left in the hands of those who colluded to keep it quite.

Kevin Flanagan protesting at the Bishops Palace