Brendan Boland, the clerical sex abuse victim sworn to secrecy by Cardinal Sean Brady, has again demanded a public apology from the cleric.
Boland was one of two teenagers abused by notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth who brought his case to Cardinal Brady in 1975.
The Cardinal and two fellow priests told the two victims to keep their allegations secret and forced them to take an oath of secrecy.
Both victims have since received financial settlements and apologies from the Catholic Church in Ireland but Boland has refused to accept a private apology from the Cardinal.
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“I will always hope for Cardinal Brady to make a public apology because to me that would be him coming forward and letting people know that he really cares, and that he is really willing to change things in the way the Catholic Church operates in these circumstances,” Boland said in an interview with state broadcaster RTE.
Now 50, Boland also outlined details of the meeting with Brady when he was repeatedly questioned about his sexuality and his body before the Cardinal demanded he sign a declaration of silence.
“You felt really alone and scared and I didn’t know what to expect, I felt disgusted by the questions I was asked,” added Boland who also stated that the Catholic Church had put a lot of ‘barriers’ in front of him during his 14-year legal case.
The Catholic Communications Office told the Irish Independent newspaper that an offer by Cardinal Brady to meet and personally apologise to Boland still stands.
“Over the years Cardinal Brady has met with survivors of abuse to express his personal apology for their suffering by those clergy who have perpetrated such egregious crimes and shattered a sacred trust,” a statement from the Office read.
“In Mr Boland’s case, Cardinal Brady was asked to offer an apology and to acknowledge and accept the failings of the church in its handling of the case, he immediately offered to write to and then to meet Mr Boland, in person, to offer that apology.
“Whilst this offer was not accepted, it still stands.”
The spokesman also told the paper that the public apology made in Armagh in March 2010 was being ‘reiterated again’ through the statement.
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