Ciaran’s Peculier [sic] Blog

The allegations that appeared in yesterday’s Sunday Times show that the former bishop of Kilmore, the late Francis McKiernan, knew of the activities of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth as early as 1975. One other fact should be borne in mind here. In 1977 I remember Dr McKiernan delivering a sermon in Cavan’s Cathedral in which he told parents that they should not listen to their children’s “tales” brought home from school, and that the children must be discouraged from doing this. Were the children being sworn to secrecy and silence too? I think that, taken together, one can only come to the opinion that there was a serious attempt to cover up charges of clerical sexual abuse going right up to the bishop himself and including the then Fr Sean Brady. The latter’s actions could very well be construed as criminal conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

 Once again those well-informed canines have known about McKiernan for years, but it is only now that the truth is seeping out, but it will not really affect the near saint-like devotion in which he is held by certain sections here in Cavan. He was such a great historian, they say, the world’s greatest living expert on the O’Reillys – until he died, and why wouldn’t he be? – sure he was the bishop.