Irish bishop regrets 2-year delay in informing police of abuse claim

March 26, 2010

Regretting his “seriously inadequate” response to a 1993 allegation against a diocesan priest, an Irish bishop apologized on March 25 for taking two years to inform civil authorities of the allegations. The priest was finally removed from ministry in 1996 after Bishop William Lee of Waterford and Linsmore received additional allegations.

“I sincerely apologize and am deeply sorry for the inadequacies of my earlier actions in this case,” Bishop Lee said in a statement. The 68-year-old bishop has led the diocese, which has 45 parishes and 140,000 faithful, since 1993.

 

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Further information:

• Bishop took two years to tell Garda of sex claim (Irish Times)
• Statement Of Bishop William Lee (Irish Times)