Irish Church settles in lawsuit against Cardinal Brady and others

June 15, 2010

Catholic Church leaders in Ireland have agreed to pay €250,000 ($300,000) to settle the legal claims of a woman who reported that she was sexually abused by the late Father Brendan Smyth.

Marie McCormack, who now lives in Canada, had brought suit against Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, the Diocese of Kilmore, and the Norbertine religious order to which Smyth belonged. Cardinal Brady has been a target of intense criticism because he became aware of complaints against Smyth in the 1970s but did not bring them to the attention of law-enforcement officials.

The settlement in McCormack's lawsuit reportedly includes an apology to the victim. But it does not involve an admission of culpability on the part of Church leaders.

 

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Further information:

• Church pays abuse victim over €250k (RTE)
• Cardinal Sean Brady sued over Church sex abuse cover-up (Irish Central)