Diocese 'cannot afford' to pay abuse claimants
Archbishop Martin: 'I don't have the cash'

Friday April 1st 2005

THE Dublin diocese does not have cash to pay child abuse claims in the medium term and may have to sell property to raise it, Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has admitted.

He was commenting on the fact the diocese has to pay ?1.25m a year into the Bishops' Stewardship Trust, set up to compensate abuse victims and pay for their child protection service.

In return, the trust helps dioceses to meet compensation payments. However, the amount paid in is not enough to fund the claims in full, along with the cost of paying for Dublin's child protection office. Commenting on his becoming Archbishop of Dublin almost one year ago, Dr Martin said: "I walked into an explosive situation. We are continuing to try to deal with it.

"Aside from personal hurt and blighted lives, the bill [resulting from child abuse] is considerable. I am talking to the priests about how we will face up to this issue. It will mean finding new money. I don't have it." The comments were made in an interview with a newspaper.

A spokesperson for the archbishop stressed that his remarks did not mean the diocese is in immediate financial trouble. She said this was likely to happen only if the current drain continued over the medium to long term.

Archbishop Martin confirmed that the diocese is paying for abuse claims out of bequests and legacies to the diocese. He did not rule out selling property.

Last year, Dr Martin told the Irish Independent that some or all of the 20 or so acres around Clonliffe College in Drumcondra could be sold, which would raise millions of euro. He indicated that a levy on parishes was not being considered at this stage, and would not happen in any case without consulting priests and parishioners.

So far the diocese has paid out on 55 claims, with 41 pending. The 55 paid out have cost just under ?5m, including costs. The trust has paid ?3.7m of this, and, to date, Dublin has put ?2.5m into the fund.

Archbishop Martin said he wants outstanding claims settled as soon as possible. "I want these cases quickly concluded so people don't go through unnecessary suffering."

David Quinn
Religious Affairs Correspondent

? Irish Independent