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Former archbishop takes libel action against Irish TV over child abuse claims

Irish missionary admits to consensual sexual relations with woman but not child abuse

By
PATRICK COUNIHAN,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Sunday, February 12, 2012, 8:25 AM
Updated Monday, February 13, 2012, 9:21 AM

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Tipperary-born Richard Burke is suing RTE
Tipperary-born Richard Burke is suing RTE
Photo by Google Images


A bishop who has admitted having sex with a woman is now suing Irish state broadcaster RTE for libel – for claiming the woman he met on the Missions in Africa was a child at the time of their relationship.

Tipperary-born Richard Burke is reportedly taking legal action over the same television programme that accused Fr Kevin Reynolds of fathering a child through rape and abandoning the mother.

Former Archbishop Burke has instigated the action against Prime Time Investigates, the RTE programme which paid out record libel damages to Fr Reynolds when a paternity suit proved he wasn’t the child’s father.

Fr Burke was a missionary priest in Nigeria when he met the woman. He claims that the RTE programme falsely accused him of child abuse.

The Sunday Independent reports that he has admitted having a sexual relationship with the woman, but claimed she was an adult at the time and that the relationship was consensual.
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His resignation as Archbishop of Benin was forced upon him after the woman complained to the Vatican about their relationship.

Robert Dore, the lawyer who acted for Fr Kevin Reynolds against RTE, began the libel action on Fr Burke’s case in December when it went before the High Court in Dublin.

Fr Burke filed an affidavit in January outlining his complaint against the broadcaster.

A member of the Kiltegan Fathers in Wicklow, Fr Burke has admitted wrongdoing by having a relationship with a woman while he was a priest in Nigeria but he claims that he was libelled by accusations that the relationship began when the woman was under age.

The paper reports that the woman involved, Dolores Atwood, who now lives in Canada, had complained about Fr Burke in 2008. She claimed the relationship began when she was 14 and that she suffered years of emotional torture.

An inquiry by the Kiltegan Fathers found no evidence to corroborate the claims.

Speaking to the Irish Catholic newspaper in 2010, Fr Burke admitted that he was told of the allegations of sexual abuse in January 2009.

“I responded immediately that I have never, ever, in my life in any way sexually abused a child,” he said at the time.

“This is still my position. It is the truth. I agreed to follow the society procedures for dealing with an accusation of child abuse against a member.

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See more: News from Ireland , Irish Catholic Church , Catholic Priest
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19 Comments

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eiriamach | Feb 14, 2012, 11:16 AM EST
I've read enough snide insinuations about alleged victims making up sexual assault complaints just to get money from the Church. Now we have the flip side of that coin for real. The archbishops have figured out how to get their condominiums in Dubai by suing the media even when they admit transgressions over 20 years of "ministry," even when they know a trial will keep their hubris touted in newspapers, even when they say they have repented their sexual sins. Admirable role models of human integrity, aren't they?

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macalister | Feb 14, 2012, 12:07 AM EST
The Roman Catholic "fathers' really thought they were a law unto themselves. Wrong for everybody else, but alright for them.

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Murph46 | Feb 13, 2012, 11:44 PM EST
Has there ever been a suit against one who is merely expressing their opinion misneac,because I think you might find that would be a violation of someones right,no matter how new you are to these posts!

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misneac | Feb 13, 2012, 10:31 PM EST
Ihave lately only become aware of this site ,and can only state that Iam appalled at the level of ignorance and legally actionable accusations made against majority innocent people . I assume that most of the people posting these vicious comments are Irish , and I have to wonder what is their agenda ,and who stole their toys ! They surely wouldnt insult Islam with such stupid postings .

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jamthecat | Feb 13, 2012, 12:48 PM EST
Is this a case of the best defense being a loud, obnoxious, hypocritical offense?

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Murph46 | Feb 13, 2012, 10:49 AM EST
Priest had sex with a woman? Must have had ugly altar boys!

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donal1951 | Feb 13, 2012, 09:46 AM EST
This reminds me of the situation faced by Bishop Eamonn Casey. With 20-20 hindsight, the fact the good bishop had sex with an adult woman is far less shocking than it might have been before the paedophile scandals in Ireland and in the USA and other countries. Mind you, if this archbishop had sex with a 14-year-old girl that would be considered statutory rape in much of the world.

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Intercessor | Feb 12, 2012, 08:23 PM EST
My, "A priest, who had Sex with a woman........." What an outrageous thought! He had to resign, even though he didn't actually father the child! Poor man! Now, I wonder if the Church is going to reinstate him as a bishop or if he is going to be forever damned to live as a mere human being, without a crozier and High-hatted Miter!

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misneac | Feb 12, 2012, 07:01 PM EST
I hope he takes that bigoted RTE for millions . The compensation game has been very lucrative for many like his accuser , and the legal people who pursue these claims !

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canadianirish | Feb 12, 2012, 03:59 PM EST
Tsk, Tsk, Richard...Where is your forgiveness?? Your Lord and Saviour will be very disappointed in you. I refuse to refer to any member of the Catholic clergy as 'Father'. There is only one 'Father' and that is God.

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Robbie69 | Feb 12, 2012, 03:38 PM EST
It seems like he admits he did wrong, and now he wants to get compensated for doing wrong. Where is the justice in that? He admits he was 40 and she was just 21 at the time of their first sexual encounter. Just because that religious body could not find corroborating evidence does not mean it didn't happen when the girl was 14, just that they can't find witnesses. I think the disgraced bishop protests too much.

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gbullough | Feb 12, 2012, 02:54 PM EST
Well, that's alright then isn't it? He just had sex with a woman who was in no position to consent because of the fundamental power imbalance, violating his vows in any case. But he's convinced himself it was consensual. So it must be okay. To paraphrase Churchill "Archbishop, we've already established what you are --- a disgraced priest; now we simply trying to settle on the degree of your disgrace."

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dipsydolly | Feb 12, 2012, 02:06 PM EST
I think i would like to hear what the woman has to say, and what age she actually was, given that he is quite mature in years, I wonder too has the lady in question been silenced??? I dont hear much of her side of the story. RTE are only puppets for the government anyway so nobody in Ireland would care if they were sued or not. One way or the other the bishop is guilty of proffesional misconduct, and in breach of celibacy, He should be removed from the church

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Collette2 | Feb 12, 2012, 02:01 PM EST
What else would he say. Historically, the female gender of Africa are by tradition subservient, and are easy prey to malevolent behaviour. No doubt this is why clergy needing to drop out of circulation with those those tendantcies, are banished there, remember Eamon Casey? What hope would any female [or young male in many cases] have against a priest including religious.

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PhlutiePhan | Feb 12, 2012, 12:31 PM EST
This is a picture of Raymond Cardinal Burke who is standing in front of a statue of King Louis IX of France in the Basilica of St. Louis in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. If you google Richard Anthony Burke, you come up with a picture on the website for the Tipperary Star which shows him to be tall and slim with an athletic face and seated at a synod of African bishops. I urge you to print an apology.

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