Legal concerns as Ferns sex abuse report to be published

The Cabinet is to discuss the Ferns inquiry report this morning amid legal concerns over how it might be published. Liam Reid and Patsy McGarry report

The T?naiste confirmed the report would go to Cabinet this morning and said she expected it to be published this afternoon.

"The Attorney General has cleared it now for Cabinet consideration . . . I think it would be important to publish it as quickly as possible. It will be published in full."

It is believed Attorney General Rory Brady remained anxious last night that the Government not leave itself open to legal action from any other jurisdictions.

Minister of State with responsibility for children Brian Lenihan is to brief the Cabinet on the report and the concerns of Mr Brady.

The report will detail the handling by Church and State authorities of allegations from more than 100 complainants against between 25 and 27 priests of Ferns diocese dating back to the mid-1960s.

Proportionally, the number of priests accused of sex abuse in Ferns is believed to be among the highest uncovered in any Catholic diocese world-wide.

At least six priests are expected to be named in the report, with the remainder given coded names as allegations against them have not been proven in the courts.

As of last night, there were no plans to "black out" the names of those identified. The Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children is expected to be asked by the Government to examine the report and its recommendations.

The report is expected to severely criticise Church authorities in Ferns over its handling of the complaints and is also expected to raise concerns about the response of church authorities outside Ferns.There will also be some criticisms of the South Eastern Health Board and of the Garda relating to specific cases.

It will raise questions about the current quality of the State's child protection measures and recommend that these be strengthened. It will advise that the issue of mandatory reporting be re-examined and that there be vetting of school managers as many of the accused priests had roles either managing or teaching at schools.

Mr Brady is said to believe that the report may not be covered by legal privilege in other jurisdictions. As a result plans to release it on the internet at 2pm today have been shelved. It will, instead, be published in traditional format and laid before the houses of the Oireachtas.