Smyth victim in Brady resign call

Samantha was abused by Fr Smyth, while she was at boarding school from 1974 to 1979.

“I just feel such sadness and such loss and there is just no need for it, if people had done what they are supposed to do and as adults, forget about the fact that they were priests,” she said.

“It is an adult’s job to protect children, regardless if it was 35 years ago or today and if he (Cardinal Brady) had done what he was supposed to do, I wouldn’t have been raped or abused for four of those five years.

“I just think it is so wrong. And I am one of the lucky unlucky ones, at least I can talk about it.

“I am still alive, I know two people who were abused by Brendan Smyth in that same school who have committed suicide.”

The two children are reported to have been aged 10 and 14 when the meetings took place in 1975.

Cardinal Brady has said he will only resign over claims he helped cover up abuse if he is asked to do so by the Pope.

“There was no cover up, I believed those people. I brought what I heard to the bishop,” he said.

Cardinal Brady said he had been following his bishop’s orders and there were no guidelines for dealing with such investigations at that time.

“Now I know with hindsight that I should have done more.

“I thought at that time I was doing what I was required to do, and not just that, but most effectively. I acted with great urgency to get that evidence and produce it,” he said.

“I believed in doing so, I was following the most effective route to get this stopped. That is my concern and always was – the safety of children.”

He said his actions were part of a process that removed Smyth’s licence to act as a priest.

He said he did not believe this was a resigning matter.

Read the whole article.