Bishop Cullinan extends support to community after tragic death of young boy

Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore extended his support to the local community of Dunmore East in Co. Waterford after the tragic death of 6 year-old Matthew Purcell-Healy, whose body was found in a car in the early hours of last Thursday. Gardaí are currently probing if the schoolboy died by suffocation.

Inviting all members of the community to join in solidarity and support during this difficult time,  Bishop Cullinan said: “The loss of a young life is a profound tragedy that deeply affects us all.  As a community, it is important for us to come together in prayer and reflection to offer comfort and strength to the family and friends of the young boy who has left us too soon”.

Two deceased Jesuits named in Marmion abuse record

The narrative record, Fr Joseph Marmion SJ: His Abuse, the harm caused and Jesuit accountability, published on February 8 by the Irish Jesuit Order references Fr Paul Andrews SJ as being the subject of a complaint of child sexual abuse in 1991. This complaint was repeated in 1994. Fr Andrews had an important role in the story of Jesuit failures in relation to Joseph Marmion SJ. He was the person to whom was made, in September 1977 the first known disclosure that Fr Marmion had sexually abused children.

Fr Andrews was Director of St Declan’s Special School from 1977 until the end of 1994. The Jesuit Order said it is necessary and right  to communicate that another deceased Jesuit, Fr Dermot Casey SJ, who was Fr Andrews’ predecessor as director at the school (1958 -1977), has been the subject of 17 complaints of child sexual abuse. These complaints were received during the period 1975 to 2023 and relate to events dating from the 1950’s through to 1977.