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IRISH EXAMINER | January 25th, 2017 First Poll Of 2017
Brings Good News
For Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil have opened up a
six-point lead on Fine Gael in 29%, but with Fine Gael down
thefirstopinionpolloftheyear.
The poll by ‘Behaviour and
Attitudes’ also sees a major rise
in support for unaligned inde-
pendents.
The first poll of 2017 shows
Fianna Fáil unchanged on
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three points to 23%.
That is around level where
Fine Gael were immediately
before the Budget last
October, when Fianna Fáil
held a lead of 7%.
Sinn Féin are on 17%,
down 2%, while AAA/PBP
Brendan Smyth’s Sex Crimes
‘Ignored To Protect Good
Name Of Church’
The c rimes of predatory priest Brendan Smyth were ignored to
protect the good name of the Catholic church, a public inquiry
are up 1% to 5% - level with found.
Labour who are unchanged. Smyth attacked children “far and wide” at residential homes in
Northern Ireland from the 1940s and was convicted of more than 100
The Independent Alliance offences, the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry found.
is down two points to 3%,
level with the Greens, with the He was allowed a car to roam the country even after he was even-
Social Democrats on 1% and tually charged by police in 1991, and over many years his Norbertine
Renua failing to register. religious order and others within the church failed to take determined
and vigorous steps to ensure he did not harm more youngsters, the
The biggest winners of this panel found.
poll are unaligned independ-
A “deliberate decision” was taken to withhold information about
ents, up 6% to Smyth when he was sent to other church dioceses around the world
15% - their highest and he was given medical treatment as a “cure” despite continuing to
level of support in attack minors.
several years.
Sir Anthony Hart’s report said: “For the Norbertine order and for
That is also others outside the order in positions of responsibility in the church,
reflected in the their overriding priority throughout was to protect the good name of
satisfaction ratings the church and at all times to prioritise Fr Smyth’s interests, instead of
of the doing what was best for the children abused by him.
Government and
party leaders, with “By doing so they were prepared to ignore their responsibilities
satisfaction either under the canon law of the church and their obligations under the
unchanged or criminal law as well as their moral responsibilities to the victims of his
down across the abuse, thereby allowing him to continue to abuse children far and
board, according wide for many decades.”
to The Sunday
Times. C The panel said it was particularly significant that the existing reli-
gious law procedures which could have been invoked to bring his
crimes to an end were resorted to on only one occasion, during an
investigation in the Kilmore area which covers Co Fermanagh and
part of the Republic in 1975.
“Even in that instance, steps to have Fr Smyth laicised (defrocked)
were not taken.”
His youngest victim, according to inquiry witness Fr William
Fitzgerald, was aged 28 at the time of the inquiry.
Fr Fitzgerald said: “She is going to be around for another 60 years,
maybe, or longer and every day of her life the horrible spectre of that
man will be in her mind and what he did.”
He said giving her even £100m in compensation would not repair
the damage.
He added: “It is unspeakable.”
The inquiry said the Norbertines permitted Fr Smyth’s ordination
despite clear warnings to the contrary.
They failed to warn the bishops of the dioceses to which he was
sent in later years, Menevia in Wales, Galloway, Rhode Island and
North Dakota, and did not report him to police and social services in
Northern Ireland or the Republic, allowing him to continue his abuse.
Instead the order attempted to “cure” him by sending him for med-
ical treatment although it was clear he was continuing to abuse chil-
dren despite previous attempts.
It also decided not to withdraw his access to a car, enabling him to
travel freely and target children in many localities, even after he was
charged by police in 1991.
The Sisters of Nazareth and the De La Salle brothers were also
found to have failed to report Smyth. C
No Newsflash ‘For Now’ From Gerry
Adams On Future As SF Leader
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams says there are no plans for any
announcement about his own future as party leader “for now”.
It follows Martin McGuinness’ decision to announce his retirement
from frontline politics yesterday as he continues his battle with illness.
Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness have worked together for more
than 45 years.
“Two announcements at the beginning of the year is enough -
Martin’s announcements and our announcement on (the coming)
Monday of his successor. That’s enough for now,” he said. C