Irish police informed in 1973 about notorious pedophile priest, commission told

June 24, 2015

Irish police were informed of sexual abuse by a notorious Irish Catholic priest as early as 1973, an investigating commission has been told.

A psychiatrist informed the gardai (police) in 1973 that Father Brendan Smyth was being treated for pedophilia, the commission learned. That information—contained in a letter to the gardai-- sheds new light on a case that caused a nationwide scandal in Ireland. Although Church officials have been charged with failure to inform the gardai about the priest’s misconduct, there is now evidence that the gardai, too, remained silent.

Father Smyth was eventually arrested in 1994, and convicted on multiple counts of molesting children. He died in prison in 1997. He is believed to have sexually abused more than 200 children.

Cardinal Sean Brady, the retired Archbishop of Armagh, was under pressure to step down before normal retirement age because he became aware of Smyth's misconduct in 1975-- two years after it was reported to the police.

 

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Further information:

• Gardaí were aware of Smyth's abuse in early 1970s, inquiry told (RTE)
• Notorious Irish pedophile priest should never have been ordained, probe witnesses argue (CWN, 6/23)