Former Irish priest loses Vatican defrocking appeal after being acquitted on child sex abuse charges

A former Irish priest who was tried and acquitted twice by Irish courts on child sex abuse charges has lost an appeal against his defrocking by the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Daniel Duane, believed to be in his 70s, from Cork, was defrocked following a canon law trial regarding abuse of teenagers and minors, it was announced last January.

Duane appealed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome but his appeal has failed it was announced over the weekend.

William Crean, the Bishop of Cloyne, said in a statement: “I stated that Daniel Duane had been dismissed from the clerical state following a Canonical Trial for the crime of abusing minors and that his appeal of this penalty was rejected by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.  

“Therefore, he was no longer a priest and could not exercise any form of priestly ministry.

“I can confirm that the judgement of the Canonical Trial to dismiss Daniel Duane from the clerical state has been upheld.

“I would like to reiterate [that] I am most grateful to the survivors of abuse who had the courage to come forward to tell their stories. This has been a long and painful process for all involved.”

“I wish to reassure the people of the Diocese of Cloyne that comprehensive child safeguarding measures are in place in the Diocese and I thank the safeguarding representative in parishes in the Diocese who are working to ensure that children’s welfare is protected in all Church activities.”