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70 Irish-born priests named as abusers in U.S.

PATRICK ROBERTS

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, January 29, 2010, 7:11 AM

Updated Friday, January 29, 2010, 3:15 PM

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A total of 70 Irish priests who worked in the U.S. have been accused of sexual abuse of children.

The U.S. website, www.Bishopaccountability.org, has published the list of the priests who have been accused of pedophile activities either in the U.S. or Ireland.

Among the list is the most infamous abuser of all, Brendan Smyth, who brought down an Irish government.

The website says Smyth "offended in both Northern Ireland and the Republic, and in both Providence RI and Fargo ND in the United States, and pleaded guilty to 96 counts of child molestation in 1997, after the Irish government fell over the mishandling of his case."

Another name is that of Anthony O’Connell, bishop of Palm Beach FL and Knoxville TN, who "molested boys at a seminary he ran in Jefferson City MO, and who resigned his bishopric when his many victims began to come forward in 2002."

Also named is Oliver O'Grady, subject of a television documentary, who is now living in Ireland. He "was deported after he served prison time in California, where he is alleged to have abused as many as 50 boys and girls."

Another well known name is Patrick Colleary, "now residing in Ireland after he was indicted for abuse in Phoenix AZ and fled the country. A request for his extradition was denied."

The names of all 70 accused are carried on the site and their alleged offenses.

The Irish names were compiled after Boston victim groups asked the archdiocese there to publish the names of Irish-born priests suspected of abuse after the Irish scandals erupted.

In addition to Smyth, the names also include Joseph T. Maguire, a priest from the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, who was convicted of molesting more than a dozen boys in the state, and who died in 2005.

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Posted by irishathens on Feb 01, 2010, 06:15 AM EST

Kilgara, we are in 2010 a time where 'free' thinkers no longer fear the threat of "paying a heavy price" Your comment reeks of the 'good' nuns brainwashing tactics. Those who 'tell it as it is' have nothing to fear. Don't forget the commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness" It is stated nowhere that one of the gravest sins is to bring scandal on the church. It's with words like these that a brainwashed nation closed its eyes to abuse from the 'good' nuns, priests, bishops etc. We through fear of eternal punishment in the raging fires of hell (this is how hell was described to me by a priest at the age of 6 after we had all been obliged to burn a finger to give us a 'small' idea of what hell was like) became complaisant and thanked God we were not the child picked on for a beating by the 'Holy' priests and nuns.

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Posted by killowen on Jan 31, 2010, 11:48 AM EST

Much evil perpertated under guise of religion on the sheep whom jesus unleashed. Now we have another opportunity to relate; American Baptists were being held in the Haitian capital Sunday after trying take 33 children out of Haiti.

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Posted by KathyCallahan on Jan 30, 2010, 04:54 PM EST

it's no secret or mystery as to why they are dead set against letting woman and married men and families into the inner circle of the fold...Because if they were all given seats 'at the table' and made privy to the inner workings of private settlements $ and negotiations Murphy 1 11 111 1V V Vi V11...

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Posted by McNamara31 on Jan 30, 2010, 11:36 AM EST

kilgara "overemphasis ?" You are part of the abuse problem. The church is self destructing because it went the way of the lawyers, instead of the way of Christ. If it had been your little child abused and the church willfully concealed it, then what would you be saying?

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Posted by killowen on Jan 30, 2010, 07:56 AM EST

wondering/surprised why holy ethnic others seemingly being able to control such impulses.

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Posted by kilgara on Jan 29, 2010, 11:10 PM EST

O'Dowd, the good nuns taught us that one of the gravest sins is to bring scandal on the church.Your outrageous overemphasis on the scandal does just that.Why do you hate the church so?You'll pay a heavy price sooner or later.

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