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Diarmuid Martin Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
Clerical Sex Abuse

Diarmuid Martin speaks of anger over clerical child abuse

The Archbishop of Dublin also said he felt isolated over his handling of the abuse scandal, but added: “I make mistakes like anybody else”.

ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN Diarmuid Martin has spoken of the anger he felt as the clerical child abuse scandals emerged in his diocese.

Martin also acknowledged that he felt isolated within the Church over his handling of the abuse scandal, but said: “I make mistakes like anybody else”.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Miriam Meets about his feelings around revelations on how the Church handled abuse allegations in the Dublin diocese, Martin said: “The dominant emotion is anger.”

He spoke of his fury that the children involved and their parents had been prevented from leading normal lives.

Martin said that there had been moments when he felt he could not handle the fallout from the scandal, and he felt he was in an isolated position. “At times I felt very much abandoned,” he said.

But I’m strong, I have  a thick skin. All I can do is follow my own conscience. I make mistakes like anybody else.

More: Up to 20,000 children sexually abused says Dutch Catholic inquiry>

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