This was 2003, just after I’d successfully campaigned for Ferns Inquiry, the 1st investigation of clerical abuse in an Irish diocese. The Church fought tooth & nail against its establishment. This attempt to suppress information is no surprise #Stand4Truth irishtimes.com/news/social-af… We were campaigning for a full inquiry into abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin at the time. The Church was still denying that abuse was commonplace & that it knew about it & had covered it up. It argued that Canon (church) Law was superior to the law of the state. #Stand4Truth

I was 14. Within 6 months of the visit I was raped for 1st time by a Priest who had been ordained despite the Church knowing he was a paedophile. 15 years later I sued Pope JPII to try get the Vatican to tell the truth about what they knew about the priest jrnl.ie/4151688 The priests parishioners complained repeatedly to Bishops about the priests behaviour. They also complained to the Papal Nuncio. The Nuncio responded and told them the Holy See (the Pope) was aware of their concerns. Nothing happened. He kept abusing. For years.

What a disgusting slur on Savita by @RonanMullen Her pregnancy was a much wanted one. Reprehensible stuff. @TodaySOR #repealthe8th He baldly stated that if “abortion on demand” was available she wouldn’t have been pregnant. Such lazy, ignorant language is appalling.