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

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Do you think the U.S. church covered up for pedophile priests here?

Yes. It makes sense that there had to be a cover-up

No. The American church is better than the Irish one

• News / Boston Archdiocese admits Irish sex abuse priests worked in its parishes / Click here
 
• News / Former Bishop says Murphy report wrong over blanket cover-up of child sex abuse / Click here

 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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