Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ Raphoe’s Bishop Alan McGuckian has expressed sorrow on behalf of the diocese for the abuse of children by the late Eugene Greene.
The onetime priest of the diocese, whose death in Cork last November was announced yesterday, pleaded guilty in 1999 to 40 counts of sexual assaults of children between 1965 and 1982. Sentenced to 12 years in prison, he was released in 2008, having been defrocked in 2004.
“The news of the death of Eugene Greene has reopened the hurt of those whom he violated, their loving families and communities across the Diocese of Raphoe,” Bishop McGuckian said in a statement. “On behalf of the diocese I wish to express my profound sorrow and shame at the abuse which he perpetrated on innocent children.”
Dr McGuckian said that An Garda Síochána informed the diocese of Mr Greene’s death on February 26. Until the contact, the diocese had not been aware of his death, and had not known of his whereabouts since he left prison in 2008.
“Once the diocese was made aware of Greene’s death, we immediately advised Tusla, the child and family agency, of this information,” Dr McGuckian said. “While at all times honouring the wish of those survivors who may not want to be contacted by the Church, I wish to offer my support and invitation to meet with anyone who has suffered abuse.”
Church bodies which provide support for abuse survivors include the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, Towards Healing and Towards Peace.
NBSCCCI: – Telephone 00 353 (1) 505 3124
Towards Healing: – Freephone (UK & NI) 0800 096 3315 or (RoI) 1800 303 416
Towards Peace: – Telephone: + 353 (0) 1 5053028 and on +353 (0) 86 7710533