The retired bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty has tonight apologised for poor practice over clerical sex abuse and saud sorry to victims.
Bishop Hegarty, the former Bishop of Raphoe, said in a statement: “I was a diocesan bishop for 30 years, first in Raphoe and later in Derry.
“I now look back and know that my practice in the past was sometimes poor and I am deeply sorry that anyone was hurt through my management of allegations historically. I know that I made big efforts to improve as time went on and this is reflected in the Derry report.”
Dr Hegarty stood down from Derry a week ago, citing ill-health.
His apology came on the day the Derry report found allegations made against 23 priests – but no priest was every convicted in the Diocese.
Dr Hegarty was severely criticised in today’s Raphoe audit (see separate reports) with investigators saying he had managed the issue poorly.
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