Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Dublin diocese priest is to step aside for probe

A PRIEST serving in the Dublin diocese stepped aside this week pending an investigation by the Church authorities.

MASS-GOERS in Wicklow were left shocked when it was announced that popular priest Fr Denis Nolan is to be the subject of an internal Church probe. 

The nature of the allegation has not yet been been revealed; however, it is understood that the priest is alleged to have breached Church protocol. 

Fr Nolan was named at masses in both Wicklow town and Rathnew on Sunday where it was announced that he was stepping aside pending the outcome of the investigation. 

In a statement to this newspaper, the diocese confirmed that a priest is being investigated "in accordance with the safeguarding of children". 

While the statement specifically mentions the safeguarding of children, the probe is understood to centred upon the possibility of a protocol failure by the cleric. 

The priest is very popular locally, and has presided over the small parish of Rathnew for several years. 

Church sources said the decision had left those who know Fr Nolan "numb with shock". 

"This has come out of the blue. The congregation was very big on Sunday and it has left the whole parish numb with shock," one well-placed source said. 

A spokesperson for the Catholic Church confirmed that a priest had stepped aside pending an investigation. 

"A priest in the Dublin diocese stepped aside this week in accordance with the guidelines of the safeguarding of children in the Catholic Church. An investigation is under way." 

Mass-goers in Wicklow were left shocked when they were told on Sunday that Fr Nolan had stepped aside. 

It was also announced at the Mass that a trained counsellor was being made available to those in the parish who may require the services in light of the news. 

One mass-goer said: "The place went completely silent. We couldn't believe it as Fr Nolan is so well known. The parish is devastated." 

Another pointed out that Fr Nolan is "highly respected" and a "very decent man". 

The Herald contacted Fr Nolan directly, but he declined to comment on any aspect of the investigation. 

The news comes on the back of one of the one darkest weeks in Catholic Church history in Ireland. 

Victims
 
Pressure was continuing to mount on Cardinal Sean Brady today after it emerged that he failed to report the crimes of the paedophile priest Brendan Smyth, despite being made aware of the names and addresses of a number of his victims. 

Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has called for an independent international commission of inquiry into how Smyth was allowed to continue abusing children for so long.