Bishop quits days before child sex abuse report due
Bishop Seamus Hegarty
A Catholic bishop stepped down yesterday just six days before child sex abuse
audits into two dioceses where he served are due to be published.
Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty's resignation on health grounds was accepted by
Pope Benedict just two weeks after offering it. He left his post immediately.
Two separate audits of the Derry and Raphoe dioceses, carried out into how the
church dealt with paedophile priests, have been pencilled in for release
next Tuesday or Wednesday, sources have said.
However, previous dates set aside for the release of the reports carried out
by the church-run National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic
Church (NBSCCC) have been postponed.
Church insiders say the contents of audits being carried out by the
organisation have been seen by retired Bishop Hegarty as well as the current
Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce.
Donegal-born Dr Hegarty served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1982 until 1994 before
taking up his position in Derry, where he admitted this year that
allegations of child sex abuse had been made against 26 priests over the
past 50 years.
Allegations against up to 20 priests have been made in the Raphoe diocese over
a similar period.
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