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Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
# Clerical Abuse
Brady resignation "too late" for abuse survivor
Brendan Boland says that Sean Brady was “weak”.
CLERICAL ABUSE SURVIVOR Brendan Boland says that the resignation of Sean Brady as Primate of All Ireland has come too late.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme, Boland said that Brady had been “rewarded” for covering up child sex abuse.
Boland disclosed that he had been abused by notorious paedophile Brendan Smyth to a priest in 1975. He has written a book, Sworn to Silence about the cover up that ensued.
He said that he has no desire to meet with Brady, but said that he wants Brady to read the book.
He said that the resignation is not, in fact a resignation, rather a retirement.
“He should have handed his resignation in four years ago.”
Boland said that Brady is “not a bad man” and has no objection to him taking up parish work.
It was weakness on a human part by him. He chose to cover it up to further his career. He forgot the real victims here. He could have stopped children being abused after 1975, but he chose not to.
“I would like to think that the next Cardinal will be more open and transparent. And I would like to see him use some humanity and give victims the compensation they deserve.”
Boland said that things were “quite raw”, but said that he hoped that Brady’s retirement would start his healing.
He said that he still believed in God but had little respect for those who preach the religion.
Read: Cardinal Seán Brady has offered to resign as Primate of All Ireland
Read: Parents should have been warned: Cardinal Seán Brady
