New crime figures show that certain types of crime are significantly down in Limerick city. Limerick politicians become extremely angry when their city is singled out as 'stab city', or the 'murder capital' of Ireland. They say that Dublin is worse. I think this is a fair point, but if it's ok to say this, then it must be equally ok to point out that while child abuse by priests is a fact, it isn't a fact only in the Catholic Church, or even disproportionately in the Catholic Church.

Commenting on the singling out of Limerick city, Labour's Jan O'Sullivan said the new statistics showed Limerick crime was low compared to Dublin.

She commented: "We need to keep saying that...because the consequences for our city are entirely negative."

How much more would she complain if there were repeated special inquiries into crime in Limerick, but no investigations for any other  town or city in Ireland. How singled out would Limerick feel then?

If we are as concerned about child abuse as we say we are, then there should be inquiries wherever it is found, those inquiries should always be published, and heads should always roll.