Dublin Diocesan Communications Office has pointed out Cardinal Connell first became aware in March 1993 of an allegation of child sexual abuse against Father Pat Hughes - although a complaint of abuse had been made earlier, in 1974.
In response to an Irish Times article yesterday, the Diocesan Office said: "It is a matter of deep regret to the diocese that no record survived of what had become known in 1974. Clearly, a letter of reference [written in 1988] would never have been written by the cardinal about Fr Hughes had he been aware of the background which he discovered in 1993."
The statement noted: "The cardinal received this knowledge through a letter from Julian Deale & Co, solicitors, which stated: 'At the time our client alerted his family to this and we are instructed that a complaint was made to the appropriate person in that church and his parents were assured that this man would be moved, as well as removed, from the society of children of his age henceforth'."
The diocesan office noted that "in March 1993 Fr Hughes was serving as a priest in the diocese of Seattle. He was immediately recalled to Dublin. He was interviewed about the allegation and about the claim that the diocese was aware of it at an earlier time. He disclosed that he had been the subject of a complaint in 1974 from the family of the young man referred to.
"He also disclosed he had been referred to a psychiatrist. In the context of the proceedings which were then threatened, the diocesan solicitors wrote to the psychiatrist who confirmed Fr Hughes's version of events, and that he had written to Archbishop Ryan in 1974 expressing the opinion that the priest was not suffering from a disorder which would prevent him from continuing in ministry."
