Sean Brady Interview

theoracle · by **theoracle** » Wed May 02, 2022 5:18 pm

I was just a note-taker....is that an acceptable excuse - in anybody's eyes?
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0502/new-cl ... html#video

Anne Cordelia Shirley · by **Anne Cordelia Shirley** » Wed May 02, 2022 5:25 pm

For a Catholic leader, he's not a very Christian man. I heard this on the news today and he seems more interested in defending himself and weaseling his way out of responsibility than addressing his failings. 'I was just following orders' was not acceptable when the Nazis used it, nor is it now when children were raped. Also, Patsy McGarry (Irish Times journalist) has pointed out that a 'note taker' is not a minor clerical role, its second in command to the bishop. I don't know how or why this institution is allowed to be in charge of 90% of places where children are sent to be educated every day.

CarolinaMoon · by **CarolinaMoon** » Wed May 02, 2022 5:29 pm

theoracle wrote:I was just a note-taker....is that an acceptable excuse - in anybody's eyes?
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0502/new-cl ... html#video

Maybe it was at the time - I can understand if he was not in a position of any power and felt that he had done what he thought he should do but what about afterwards? Did he not realise that nothing was done about this monster? And as he rose up in the church he did nothing. I cannot understand that. How could he not have tried to do more as the years went by?

This is just so typical of the church. Its all about keeping the institution safe and ignoring what was happening to the childen involved.

baby2008 · by **baby2008** » Wed May 02, 2022 6:18 pm

I'm speechless. Regardless of his position, he knows right from wrong.He had a duty of care. He (and others) chose to protect the church instead of the victims. It makes my stomach turn.

theoracle · by **theoracle** » Thu May 03, 2022 9:54 am

It is so sad reading the Sam Adair statement today, thinking his abuse could have been stopped if any of the 3 men at the said witness hearing did something :o(

Daisy Day · by **Daisy Day** » Thu May 03, 2022 10:00 am

I watched the documentary about this on the BBC last night and just couldn't get over it. I'm not sure of the exact quote but the gist of what Brady said back in 2009 was that if he thought he did something (or didn't do something) that led to more children being abused he'd have to resign. Roll on 3 years, here's the proof of him doing absolutely nothing to stop more children being abused by that evil monster and like a typical politician he's using weasel words to get out of having to resign. I can't even express my anger about this adequately. O:|

Smileykaz · by **Smileykaz** » Thu May 03, 2022 11:23 am

Didn't see the programme but reading all about it today and saw some stuff on Twitter yesterday and God it's inexcusable.

He has to resign. He's claiming to be just the note taker but he was a 35 year old man, an expert in Canon Law. He wasn't a 17 year old novice priest terrified out of his mind or anything, not knowing what to do. He knew well this was wrong and should have been dealt with by the police.

It's just horrendous, those poor victims, dozens of them and he did nothing.

And they wonder why faith in the CHurch is declining? Why Catholics are struggling to stay faithful, people who want to listen to the Word of God but who don't condone in any way what these excuse for human beings did? How do you reconcile the two? It's impossible almost. It's just blow after blow.

bazinga · by **bazinga** » Thu May 03, 2022 11:33 am

His covering up lasted well into the early 2000s, so there is a lot more to come out about him, when he wasn't "just" a priest, he was a bishop then arch-bishop, so in a position of power. If indeed the truth comes out at all.

Part of me thinks he should retire now before any more of his cover-ups and lies come out. The other part of me wants him to keep digging that hole for himself, and hopefully more and more people who have a blind faith in this man get their eyes opened.

Keep your faith in your religion, but limit your faith in the people running the organisation.

YoMammaSo · by **YoMammaSo** » Thu May 03, 2022 11:36 am

What really annoyed me about the whole thing was the comments that came up on screen at the end that somethign to the effect "The church would like to point out, that It wasnt a church law, back then, to notify the Guards of Abuse to children" It wasn't a law, he might have known it was wrong but he didnt legally have to oblige anyone.

Also the boy that came forward and said he was raped by the priest, only for 3 different priests come and interview him and ask him questions like " And when this was done to you did you have an erection " What the Fùck. It was almost like they were getting off on it themselves. And they they made the child swear on the bible not to tell the Guards and or his parents !

Its sick !

He should 100% resign if he had brought the abuse to the attention of the Guards he could have/ would have saved the innocence of so many more children from that Beast!

This is just 1 priest that we know about that he help keep concealed so how many more is there ?

Tir Chonaill Bride · by **Tir Chonaill Bride** » Thu May 03, 2022 8:52 pm

Totally agree with you yo mamma!

Its horrendous! It scares me to think what else is to come out!

The program really angered me, I just sat and cried. members of my own family are survivors of child abuse, and the abuser has never been prosecuted.

I have so much admiration for the people who have come forward, its a very hard thing to do.

In saying that, my heart goes out to those priests who are dedicated and genuine, their lives are also being ruined by this whole cover up situation.

edited for sp

disney08 · by **disney08** » Tue May 08, 2022 12:05 pm

I have restrained myself from ranting on here about Sean Brady, so far.

But last night I was watching "Reeling In The Years" on RTE and the year was 1979 and the Pope's visit to Ireland. It made me so mad seeing the Pope addressing the crowd and saying how he loves the young people of Ireland - all I kept thinking was "this is 33 years ago, and even then it was already 4 years after Sean Brady was doing his 'note-taking' about Fr Brendan Smyth. You (the Church) know he is still out there". Honestly, how in all good conscience did they celebrate the Pope's visit while knowing how badly they have neglected their duty of care to vulnerable children, knowing that Smyth was still out there and free to do as he pleased. Sickening, gave me chills.

Girl From Mars · by **Girl From Mars** » Tue May 08, 2022 2:41 pm

This particular story has me a bit wigged out. I work in a school. If a kid comes to us with a report of abuse, my job as a teacher is to report it up the line to my principal. After that it's in her hands. Is that not the same thing as what Sean Brady did then? Did he not report it to his superior, as per his remit, and then the superior was supposed to take it to the authorities? (I may not be right here but I keep hearing this and it has me worried about my own role)

Tir Chonaill Bride · by **Tir Chonaill Bride** » Tue May 08, 2022 3:10 pm

That is my understanding of my position also as a teacher, report it to the designated person who is VP in my case. Its his job to report it to the police, they shouldnt even investigate it, unless its unclear. However you would enquire/ensure it has been reported properly.

Also you have to question about how it is dealt with when reported!

Speaking from a personal experience, both with the Gardaí and the PSni, when reported it can fall on deaf ears if there is not enough evidence. The DPP questioned the abuser, denied it and it was thrown out for lack of evidence.

Daisy Day · by **Daisy Day** » Tue May 08, 2022 3:27 pm

Girl From Mars wrote:This particular story has me a bit wigged out. I work in a school. If a kid comes to us with a report of abuse, my job as a teacher is to report it up the line to my principal. After that it's in her hands. Is that not the same thing as what Sean Brady did then? Did he not report it to his superior, as per his remit, and then the superior was supposed to take it to the authorities? (I may not be right here but I keep hearing this and it has me worried about my own role)

Hi Girl From Mars,

I get what you're saying and yes I think in a lot of respects the same situation applied to Sean Brady i.e. he reported the matter to his superior who then did nothing. As far as he is concerned he did his job, was a good functioning cog in the wheel and sure what's our problem?
However that's not bloody well good enough - what about moral duty? If in your example a child came up to you and confided in you that he/she was being abused and you fulfilled your duty as laid down in the guidelines/rules surrounding your job, are you then saying that you would never ask again what happened that little boy/girl? You would merrily go on your way, never to question if that child was ok or if the monster who had abused them - a colleague of yours say from a different school - was still in a position where he/she could abuse others? In the sense that you may have carried out all that you were required to do per your job description then yes you fulfilled your duty, but would you be happy to leave it at that? I can't imagine that you would be but maybe I'm wrong?

Girl From Mars · by **Girl From Mars** » Tue May 08, 2022 4:02 pm

Daisy Day wrote:
Girl From Mars wrote:This particular story has me a bit wigged out. I work in a school. If a kid comes to us with a report of abuse, my job as a teacher is to report it up the line to my principal. After that it's in her hands. Is that not the same thing as what Sean Brady did then? Did he not report it to his superior, as per his remit, and then the superior was supposed to take it to the authorities? (I may not be right here but I keep hearing this and it has me worried about my own role)

Hi Girl From Mars,

I get what you're saying and yes I think in a lot of respects the same situation applied to Sean Brady i.e. he reported the matter to his superior who then did nothing. As far as he is concerned he did his job, was a good functioning cog in the wheel and sure what's our problem?
However that's not bloody well good enough - what about moral duty? If in your example a child came up to you and confided in you that he/she was being abused and you fulfilled your duty as laid down in the guidelines/rules surrounding your job, are you then saying that you would never ask again what happened that little boy/girl? You would merrily go on your way, never to question if that child was ok or if the monster who had abused them - a colleague of yours say from a different school - was still in a position where he/she could abuse others? In the sense that you may have carried out all that you were required to do per your job description then yes you fulfilled your duty, but would you be happy to leave it at that? I can't imagine that you would be but maybe I'm wrong?

Yeah fair point. It would be very 'head in the sand' to just report and forget. I suppose it's only natural that you would seek follow up information in cases like these. I just find the whole thing very unsettling. The nerves it takes for any child to come forward on stuff like that and then to have nothing happen.

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