Cardinal Brady: Just go

Last night BBC2 ( go here to see it online) showed a documentary on the abuse victims of Father Brendan Smyth and Cardinal Brady's involvement in what happened when his abuses first came to light in 1975.

Brady (above) was part of an investigation in 1975 into one of Ireland's worst paedophiles. Smyth had already abused at least five children, but, despite the investigation, no action was taken to control Smyth. The children were sworn to secrecy and the parents were not informed of the abuse. Smyth abused one child cor a ear after the investigation, he then abused that child's sister for seven years. He abused many others before his arrest and trial in 1994. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison and died in prison three years later. He is shown in the photo below

The documentary clearly showed that Brady was heavily involved in the investigation, and more than a simple notary as he and the church try to portray. Brady, himself blamed superiors for failing to stop the priest abusing over the next 20 years.

According the the Independent Brady stated "I was shocked, appalled and outraged when I first discovered in the mid-1990s that Brendan Smyth had gone on to abuse others," he said.  The Primate insisted responsibility for the Smyth scandal does not lie with him. He blamed Fr Kevin Smith, the superior in Smyth's Norbertine Order. He also claimed his role in the internal Church inquiry had been deliberately exaggerated and misrepresented in the documentary.

 It does not matter if Brady was a small cog in the church's machine back in 1975 he was party to information which clearly showed that a fellow priest had committed serious criminal offences.  The failure of the church to do absolutely nothing to stop Smyth is a disgrace - his trial in 1994 was a factor in bringing down the Irish government - but to blame others for their inaction when he had every opportunity to stop a monster. Trying to say that he had a minor role in the 1975 investigation holds no water.

If Cardinal Brady was a man of honour he would retire to a quiet room with a bottle of whiskey and a revolver. If he had any common sense he would resign forthwith. Clearly Brady has neither honour nor sense; he is simply an arrogant, and pathetic little man dearly clinging to a position he is not fit to perform.

It is intersting to see what the Irish press editorials are saying today"

The Irish Times seems to accept that he isn't going to go but does not let him off the hook

Irish Independent also seems to accept he will be around for a while yet but is more damning than the Times

 The Cork-based Examiner and the Belfast Telegraph take the view, and clearly so, that he must go.

The Tanaiste (Deputy PM) Eamon Gilmore has also said he should resign, but after Enda Kenny's speech to the Dail last year, I doubt he listens to TDs of any stripe any more!