Continuing a series to allow readers a clearer insight into the work of the Murphy Commission and its findings, The Irish Catholic publishes an extract detailing Bishop Dermot O'Mahony's handling of one case of abuse.

Chapter 14 of the Murphy Report deals with the priest given the pseudonym Fr Vidal. Originally ordained for a diocese in Britain, he served in the Archdiocese of Dublin for approximately ten years in the 1960s and '70s. He was never incardinated there (brought under the authority of the archbishop of the diocese). He died in 2004.

The Murphy Commission notes that ''almost immediately after he was ordained Fr Vidal began to experience problems with celibacy and he had affairs with a number of women''.

Apparently, the reason for Fr Vidal's move from his British diocese was to escape one of these affairs. He did apply for laicisation in the 1960s but never pursued this course.

Murphy: ''He contacted Archbishop McQuaid to see if he could work as a priest in the Archdiocese of Dublin. His bishop wrote to Archbishop McQuaid saying 'as you will appreciate, it will not be advisable for him to work in this diocese again'. He did not elaborate on the reason, but it would seem that Archbishop McQuaid was aware of the problem and the nature of it.''

First complaint

Fr Vidal began his work in Dublin in 1968.

In 1973 a nun reported to the archdiocese that Fr Vidal was involved with a woman teacher and a girl aged 12-14. The relationships had begun sometime between 1968 and 1971. The nun had letters suggesting the relationship with the girl was sexual.

A parish priest tasked with investigating the case by Archbishop Ryan subsequently noted: ''I think we must accept that [Fr Vidal] has been at least guilty of conduct which was indiscreet, improper and open to grave scandal.'' While adding that it was ''not necessary to accept everything that has been said against him'', the parish priest nevertheless judged that there was sufficient evidence to justify a warning against such conduct and of the risk of compromise. He advised the archbishop that Fr Vidal ''needs to be handled firmly, but with kindness and patience''.

The same priest then met with Fr Vidal who denied any impropriety. ''He stated that he was fully aware that the young girl had a crush on him but that it had not been reciprocated and that his relationship with the teacher was entirely platonic.'' (Murphy) Fr Vidal agreed to keep away from the girl.

Laicisation

In 1977, arising from a growing spiritual and vocational crisis on his part, Fr Vidal was granted leave of absence; a year later he applied for laicisation.

Bishop Dermot O'Mahony sent Fr Vidal for a psychological assessment which was, according to the Murphy Commission, ''unequivocal''. Recognising that Fr Vidal was promiscuous, the assessment added the warning that he ''never did, never could and never will'' sustain a life of celibacy. Laicisation was recommended.

In 1979 that process was begun. It was handled by Bishop O'Mahony.

Fr Vidal now admitted that he had not ended the relationship with the young girl, and now in her early 20s, he was planning to marry her. He also admitted that, despite his earlier denials, his relationship had been sexual since the girl was about 13.

The laicisation process went to Rome in October 1980. However, as Murphy relates: ''No decision was made because, when Rome sought further information, the circumstances had changed.''

Fr Vidal and the young woman married that year. Though it appears that he was not free to enter into a Catholic marriage, a priest of the Dublin archdiocese nevertheless conducted the ceremony of what was ''a valid civil marriage''. (Murphy)

Return to ministry

In 1985, Fr Vidal contacted Bishop O'Mahony to request a return to ministry as his marriage had broken down. The bishop sent him to a monastery to consider his situation. After a month, Bishop O'Mahony sent Fr Vidal and his wife for counselling and they formally separated.

(Murphy notes that Bishop O'Mahony revealed to the Commission that he had shredded his files on Fr Vidal after the priest's death, so there was no documentation on his dealings with the priest in the 1980s.)

Sacramento

Bishop O'Mahony arranged for Fr Vidal to go to the Diocese of Sacramento in California, USA.

The diocese has confirmed that Dr O'Mahony's letter of commendation made no mention of Fr Vidal's previous activities. Letters sent subsequently from the British diocese suggest that it was not aware that Fr Vidal was going to Sacramento but Murphy adds ''this is not absolutely certain''. Further: ''The decision to allow him to resume ministry was made in spite of the earlier unequivocal view of the psychologist about his incapacity to maintain celibacy.''

Fr Vidal's wife was subsequently (in 1991) given a statement by Msgr Alex Stenson that the 1980 marriage was not a valid Catholic marriage. This was to allow her to have a church wedding as she was marrying another man. (She divorced Fr Vidal when divorce was introduced into Ireland in 1996).

1991

The British diocese contacted Dublin as Fr Vidal was seeking to be incardinated in Sacramento.

Following correspondence, it was agreed the British would excardinate Fr Vidal and Sacramento would incardinate directly. The Dublin archdiocese ''provided Fr Vidal with a statement outlining his involvement with the archdiocese. This statement included the information that he had become involved with a girl whom he had civilly married. However, ''it did not mention her age when he first became sexually involved with her''. (Murphy)

1992

Fr Vidal got a divorce in California. The Sacramento diocese had been unaware of his marriage when he first went there. He continued to minister there, with no further complaints of abuse, retiring to Ireland in 2003, where he died in 2004.

The Murphy Commission contends that its ''analysis of this case was hampered by the absence of records of the communications between Bishop O'Mahony and Fr Vidal.

''Bishop O'Mahony told the Commission that he started to shred documents in 2001 when he was ill. These were documents which had arisen while he was dealing with a confidential matter: 'Any document that a priest came and spoke to me in a private, confidential capacity about a spiritual matter of conscience, I felt that no one had the right after I was dead to see those documents. I shred them'.''

Bishop O'Mahony further told the Commission that ''the only documents in relation to child sexual abuse that he shredded were the documents relating to Fr Vidal''.

Bishop O'Mahony: ''I felt that I had a duty to protect the good name of [the girl he married], who had subsequently married. Her marriage is recognised by the Church and State. So I regarded the [Fr Vidal] case as very much a good news story. That the priest went back into active ministry and the girl in question, who was a young woman when I met her, married happily and her marriage is recognised civilly and canonically. [This reference is to her second marriage.] So for me that was a good news story.''

The Commission described as ''extraordinary'' the lack of action in relation to Fr Vidal's relationship with the girl beyond a request for assurance from Fr Vidal that he would end it. Further, the Commission expressed concern that, despite his admission of child abuse, Fr Vidal was allowed to return to ministry. ''It is particularly concerned that Bishop O'Mahony did not provide the Diocese of Sacramento with any information about Fr Vidal's adverse history. The fact that there are no further reports of abuse and that he subsequently divorced his wife without the knowledge of the Diocese of Sacramento and reached an amicable settlement with her does not detract from these concerns.

''The Commission does not consider that this is 'a good news story'.''