Vatican to launch internal inquiry into clerical abuse
The Vatican has announced details of a special inquiry into the Church in Ireland.
The root and branch investigation, which will look the sexual abuse scandals, was first mooted by Pope Benedict in March.
Today the Pontiff has confirmed the names of five senior clergymen who will head up the inquiry. All of them are based outside of Ireland but are of Irish descent.
They include the Catholic Primate of England and Wales Cardinal Cormac Murphy O' Connor.
The so-called Apostolic Visitation was first announced in Pope Benedict's pastoral letter to Catholics in Ireland in March.
