Statement of Archbishop Clifford, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cloyne

12 Nov 2010

PRESS RELEASE
12 November 2010

Statement of Archbishop Clifford, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cloyne

Fr Brendan Wrixon, a retired priest of the Diocese of Cloyne, has today (12 November 2010) been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving child sexual abuse.

I am deeply sorry that the trust of a young person was betrayed by one of our priests and I wish to apologise and express to him and his family my sincere regret.

Fr Wrixon has not held a diocesan appointment since 2005.  He is restricted to the celebration of Holy Mass in private in his home without a congregation and he may not engage in priestly ministry in public.  He is also not allowed to wear clerical dress or present himself as a priest.

I wish to encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to come forward to An Garda Síochána and the HSE to report that abuse.  I also wish to let victims, or anyone who has concerns, know that they may also contact me directly or contact the Diocesan child protection designated officer, Fr John McCarthy (details below).  The Diocese operates safeguarding children procedures as set out by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in its guidelines Safeguarding Children.

ENDS

Further information:

  • Diocese of Cloyne Child Protection Designated Officer: Rev John McCarthy: 086 0368999.
  • Fr. Jim Killeen, Diocesan Communications Officer, Cobh, Co. Cork, 087 205 3938, email: [email protected] and www.cloynediocese.ie
  • National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church: www.safeguarding.ie