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17/08/2010
Priest 'On Leave' During Child Welfare Probe
It has emerged today that a Roman Catholic priest has stepped down from his duties while an investigation into the safety and welfare of children is carried out.
The move to grant Father Eugene Boland "administrative leave" from the church came just days after the Pope refused to accept the resignation of two auxiliary bishops implicated in the cover-up of child abuse in the Irish Republic's damning Murphy Report.
It is thought the priest informed parishioners in Killyclogher, Co Tyrone, of his decision during Sunday Mass.
Commenting to BBC NI, the Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty said: "The paramount concern of the diocese is, and will continue to be, the safety and welfare of children."
He also said that Fr Boland and the diocese would continue to "co-operate fully with the civil authorities" and insisted that the priest is "entitled to the benefit of a presumption of innocence".
Last week, Pope Benedict rejected the resignations of two bishops named in the report and snubbed victims' groups.
The Pontiff's long-awaited decision in support of Dublin Auxiliary Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field led to a furious reaction from victims of clerical abuse in Ireland and the US.
Dr Walsh and Bishop Field tendered their resignations to Rome eight months ago after Dr Martin called for all bishops named in the Murphy Report to take responsibility for their past actions.
See: Abuse Shock As Pope 'Says No'
(KMcA)
The move to grant Father Eugene Boland "administrative leave" from the church came just days after the Pope refused to accept the resignation of two auxiliary bishops implicated in the cover-up of child abuse in the Irish Republic's damning Murphy Report.
It is thought the priest informed parishioners in Killyclogher, Co Tyrone, of his decision during Sunday Mass.
Commenting to BBC NI, the Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty said: "The paramount concern of the diocese is, and will continue to be, the safety and welfare of children."
He also said that Fr Boland and the diocese would continue to "co-operate fully with the civil authorities" and insisted that the priest is "entitled to the benefit of a presumption of innocence".
Last week, Pope Benedict rejected the resignations of two bishops named in the report and snubbed victims' groups.
The Pontiff's long-awaited decision in support of Dublin Auxiliary Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field led to a furious reaction from victims of clerical abuse in Ireland and the US.
Dr Walsh and Bishop Field tendered their resignations to Rome eight months ago after Dr Martin called for all bishops named in the Murphy Report to take responsibility for their past actions.
See: Abuse Shock As Pope 'Says No'
(KMcA)
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