Irish court dismisses new suits in case of notorious priest-abuser Smyth
November 12, 2015
An appeals court in Ireland has dismissed civil suits brought by abuse victims against the Catholic Church, apparently ending legal proceedings in the country’s most notorious case.
The Court of Appeal upheld an earlier ruling that three plaintiffs, who had already accepted a settlement, could bring a new suit after learning that Church leaders had been aware of the misconduct of the late Father Brendan Smyth, who molested them.
The Smyth case became infamous when it emerged that Church officials knew about Smyth’s abuse as early as 1975, and that Cardinal Sean Brady—at the time a young priest and secretary to Bishop Francis McKiernan—was among those informed about the case. The revelations of Cardinal Brady’s involvement led to demands for his resignation. (The cardinal rejected those demands, and retired last year upon reaching the statutory age limit.)
While professing “the greatest sympathy” for the plaintiffs, the earlier court decision had found that the abuse victims were already compensated for their suffering. Although the compensation may have been greater if they had originally been aware of the hierarchy’s role in keeping the Smyth case quiet, the court noted that the plaintiffs had freely chosen to settle the case.
The court’s decision in the lawsuit will apparently block any prospect of further legal action against Cardinal Brady.
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