Bishop Casey cleared of sex abuse charges
Bishop Caasey has been cleared of sex abuse charges, it was confirmed today.
Eamonn Casey, the former Bishop of Galway, will not face prosecution after gardaí investigated the allegations dating back more than 30 years made against him by a middle-aged woman.
Dr Casey, who fled to South America in 1992 after it emerged he had fathered a son during an affair with an American divorcee, was serving in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton in England last November when the claims emerged.
He stood aside from active ministry as per diocesan guidelines when the allegations were made and the garda investigation got underway. He vigorously denied the accusations.
A spokesman for the Catholic Communications Office today said: “The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to proceed with the case against Bishop Eamonn Casey.”
It is believed the Limerick-born woman made similar unproven allegations against other people in the past.
Under Catholic Church guidelines, it will now begin its own probe of the allegations.
Bishop Casey, 78, has already expressed his eagerness to return to ministry and say Mass in public again.
In February last year he returned to live in Ireland after being exiled for over a decade after his affair with Annie Murphy.
He publicly apologised for any hurt caused by his affair with Ms Murphy as he moved to the Parish of Shanaglish at Beagh in south Galway.
During the secret relationship with Ms Murphy, which began in the early 1970s, the couple had a son, Peter, and it was alleged that church funds were used to pay the Bishop’s maintenance costs.
When the matter became public, Bishop Casey resigned his post as Bishop of Galway and left for a missionary post in Ecuador. He later moved to England where he acted as a curate and chaplain in the Sussex parish of Stapleford.
After standing down in May 1992, he lived in the United States, Mexico, Ecuador and England. During the time he made low-key visits to Ireland.
