I also want to apologise to all the people of Ireland that this abuse was covered up and that the reputation of the Church was put before the safety and well-being of children.

I am deeply sorry and I am ashamed.

I also want to reassure everyone that the Church’s policy of Child Safeguarding in Ireland today puts the welfare of the child as the paramount concern. That policy is also based on the practice of full cooperation with the Statutory authorities and ongoing monitoring of the implementation of best practice in Dioceses by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland.

No one is above the law in this country. Every Catholic should comply fully with their obligations to the civil law and cooperate with the Gardai in the reporting and investigation of any crime.’