The former Bishop of Galway the late Eamon Casey was accused of sexually abusing three women as children, two of whom received compensation.
The Irish Mail on Sunday carried an extensive interview with Patricia Donovan, the niece of Eamon Casey, in which she claimed that the former Bishop of Galway had abused her from the time she was five.
She reported this to the gardaí in 2005, but no charges were ever filed against the bishop. While the allegations were reported in the media at the time, Patricia Donovan had not been named as his accuser before this report.
Sunday’s report also brought to light that Bishop Casey, who passed away in 2017 aged 89, was also accused of abusing two other children during the 50s and 60s.
Bishop Casey reportedly admitted to one allegation of abuse that occurred while he was a priest in Britain and two women have received compensation for the alleged abuse according to the Irish Times.
Eamon Casey was ordained as a priest in Limerick in 1951 before moving to Britain in 1960 where he served in the diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
In 2005 the diocese sent him to Galway on the basis of allegations that Ms. Donovan made against him.
One woman began a High Court action regarding alleged abuse by Eamon Casey during his time as curate at St John’s Cathedral in Limerick between 1955-1960 which was settled in 2017 shortly after his death.
Another woman made a claim to the Residential Institutions Redress Board about her complaint and was awarded compensation.
The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora has said that it is aware of the allegations made against the former Bishop of Galway in 2005, adding that no prosecution was undertaken and that it was not aware of any criminal investigation of him at the time of his death.
The diocese’s statement also said that any allegations of abuse it receives are reported to all relevant statutory authorities.
The Garda Síochana and church authorities were reportedly notified of the other allegations in 2001 and 2014 by Limerick diocese.
