Head of inquiry into mother-and- baby homes criticised by ACP

THE ASSOCIATION of Catholic Priests (ACP) in Ireland has criticised the decision to appoint Judge Yvonne Murphy to oversee the Commission of Investigation into church-run mother and baby homes.

In a statement, the priests’ association said it welcomed the commission of investigation, which will examine reports that 796 babies and children died at the Tuam mother and baby home between 1925 and 1961.

However, the ACP said it is concerned that the commission will be overseen by the judge who previously led the commission of investigation into the mishandling of clerical child sex abuse allegations in the Dublin archdiocese between 1975 and 2004. This resulted in the 2009 Murphy report.

A spokesman for the ACP, Fr Sean McDonagh said his association’s criticism of Judge Murphy was “not personal” and should not be interpreted as an attack on her, “still less an attempt to obstruct the investigation”.

However, he highlighted the criticisms of the Murphy Commission contained in a review of its operation commissioned by the ACP and written by a retired judge, Fergal Sweeney, last year which raised concerns over procedural fairness. Mr Sweeney concluded that the Murphy Commission contained significant deficiencies in terms of respecting the demands of natural and constitutional justice. Fr McDonagh said: “In the light of the serious failings of the Murphy Commission”, the ACP want Fergal Sweeney’s conclusions considered before the terms of reference for the investigation into mother and baby homes are established.

Meanwhile, the papal nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles Brown, has criticised those who “are constantly predicting the demise of the Catholic Church in Ireland”.

The nuncio was recently criticised by Fr Brendan Hoban of the ACP for betraying “a disrespectful patronising of Irish Catholics and their priests” over his comments on a new springtime beginning in the Irish Church.

Speaking in Knock to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association’s pilgrims to the Marian shrine, the nuncio hit out at those who “constantly tell us that the Church is finished. That there are no more young men with the courage to follow Jesus as priests. That Catholic teaching is no longer convincing to people today.”

Archbishop Brown told The Tablet that his Knock comments were not aimed towards any group in particular.