RTÉ 1's popular series, Fair City, last night began broadcasting a four-episode special dealing with the issue of clerical child sex abuse.
Previous Fair City specials have covered other social issues such as health, education and crime.
Taking part are some of Ireland's leading actors, including T.P. McKenna, Anna Manahan and Phelim Drew, all of whom are joining the programme for the week. Also included will be the last performances by Fedelma Cullen, who died shortly after these episodes were recorded.
The episodes will be broadcast at 8 p.m. each evening until Friday, and there will be an extended hour-long special tomorrow night between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The storyline examines how the Irish Catholic Church has dealt with reports of child abuse. It explores the pressure priests have been put under when they have heard the confessions of offending priests, as well as the effect the abuse has had on victims and their families.
T.P. McKenna plays Father Mitchell, an elderly priest waiting to retire. He has reported incidents of child sexual abuse, but these have been ignored by church authorities, with the offending priest transferred to another parish.
Phelim Drew plays the young Father Visconti, whose radical ideas are disrupting the parish.Anna Manahan is their housekeeper Ursula.
