December deadline set for Cloyne abuse report

The Government has given the Commission of Investigation into clerical child sex abuse in the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne another two months to complete its report.

The Commission was asked to investigate the Cloyne Diocese in January 2009, after another investigation by the National Board for Safeguarding Children found that child protection practices in the diocese were inadequate and dangerous.

The Commission had been due to submit its report to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern by the end of this week.

However, a spokesman for Mr Ahern has confirmed that the Government had decided to give the Commission until 31 December to complete its work.

It is understood that the Commission hopes to submit its report to Mr Ahern before Christmas.

 
However, even if that happens it is likely to be the New Year at the earliest before the report is published.

SIC: RTÉ/IE