Eileen Culloty apologizes to Fr Liam O’Brien nearly five years after allegations
IrishCentral.com
Published Friday, June 7, 2013, 6:54 AM
Updated Friday, June 7, 2013, 10:09 AM
Eileen Culloty, of Currow in Killarney, Co Kerry, apologized in the High Court this week for making false allegations of abuse against Fr Liam O’Brien in 2008.
The Irish Independent reports that Culloty wrote a letter to the bishop of Co Kerry in December 2008 lodging false allegations of abuse against Fr Liam O’Brien, who hadn’t been working at Culloty’s parish for 14 years at that point.
Aside from sending the letter to the bishop, Culloty also complained to the Garda, HSE, and Personal Injury Assessment Board. In February 2011, Culloty also disrupted a funeral mass which Fr O’Brien was officiating.
Along with her siblings, Culloty lives very near to the presbytery where Fr O’Brien lived when he worked at the parish. Fr O’Brien now lives in Killorglin, Co Kerry.
On Wednesday, June 5, Culloty’s lawyer read an apology letter to the High Court on behalf of Culloty. In the letter, Culloty asserted that her 2008 allegations were entirely false.
“I wish to categorically also put on record that you [Fr O’Brien] never acted inappropriately towards me, or any member of my family, in any way whatever, either sexually, physically, verbally, psychologically, or otherwise,” she wrote.
Neither Culloty nor Fr O’Brien were present in court for the apologies; both were represented by their lawyers.
Fr O’Brien’s lawyer Robert Dore said his client had agreed not to pursue his actions for damages and defamation against Culloty.
Fr O’Brien had also sought orders restraining Culloty from harassing him over the false allegations.
The presiding Justice Elizabeth Dunne agreed to a request from Fr O’Brien’s lawyer to adjourn the matter generally, meaning it can come back before the court if there are any further incidents.
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Clearing of name of Kerry priest falsely accused raises ‘matters of great concern’
Association of Catholic Priests says priests are now ‘an easy target’ with considerable number of false allegations
The Irish Times
First published: Fri, Jun 7, 2013, 01:11
Fri, Jun 7, 2013, 07:33
Bishop of Kerry Bill Murphy: welcomed apology.The clearing of the name of Kerry priest Fr Liam O’Brien who was falsely accused by a woman of abuse, has highlighted “two matters of great concern,” the leadership of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has said.
The association said there are a considerable number of false allegations being made against individuals.
“We have known of this for some time. Priests are now an easy target, and there are a considerable number of false allegations being made against individuals,” they said.
And there was “the absence, in most cases including this one, of any real support from church authorities for a priest who finds himself in this terrible situation.”
Apology
On Wednesday, Eileen Culloty apologised at the High Court in Dublin to Fr O’Brien whom she had falsely accused of abusing her.
In a brief statement last night the Bishop of Kerry, Bill Murphy, welcomed Ms Culloty’s apology at the High Court “in relation to a series of untrue allegations she made against Fr O’Brien”.
He said: “As bishop I have a pastoral responsibility to the faithful in the Diocese of Kerry, and in particular a duty of care to my priests. In the case of Fr Liam O’Brien I am delighted that the truth has been established. Fr O’Brien is a priest in good standing. I met with Fr Liam O’Brien on a number of occasions and discussed the situation with him.”
He added that a “Care of Priests” group had been established a number of years ago in the diocese with the role of supporting priests.
Building supports for priests will continue to be a priority in the Diocese of Kerry into the future, he said.
Allegations
In December 2008, Ms Culloty, who lives beside the presbytery at Currow, Killarney, Co Kerry, wrote a letter to Bishop Murphy in which she made the untrue allegations against Fr O’Brien. These she later repeated to gardaí, the Health Service Executive and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. In February 2011 she disrupted a funeral in Currow at which Fr O’Brien officiated.
In a letter read at the High Court this week she undertook never to repeat the false allegations. She also apologised for the funeral incident and said she accepted Fr O’Brien was a priest of the utmost integrity and that he never behaved in any untoward way.
Robert Dore, solicitor for Fr O’Brien who is based in Killorglin, Co Kerry, said the priest had agreed not to proceed with an action against Ms Culloty on the basis of her apology.
The ACP said it was “delighted” that Fr O’Brien’s “long nightmare” was over. It thanked Mr Dore and the legal team for “the great work done” and wished Fr O’Brien well in the future.
If indeed this woman did conjure up false allegations she should be charged. If perchance she is mentally unstable the courts can take that into account. Every victim deserves to understand why someone would pose as a victim, throw around false sex abuse allegations against a priest, and in the process of all the lying besmirch the name of every victim of clerical sexual abuse throughout the world.
It may be an act of Christian charity on the part of the diocese and the accused not to pursue charges against this lady, however, in a day and age when far too many clergy and others claim that (1) there is really no sex abuse scandal and cover-up of same in the Church and (2) countless priests are victims of false accusations, there is a need to send a message that lying about clerical sexual abuse will not be tolerated, and that those who do so will be charged. If indeed there is a serious problem of false allegations then for goodness sake charge those who so blatantly and boldly lie, if no other reason than for the sake of the countless bona fide victims.
“I wish to categorically also put on record that you [Fr O’Brien] never acted inappropriately towards me, or any member of my family, in any way whatever, either sexually, physically, verbally, psychologically, or otherwise,” she wrote.”
Hummmm! Sounds like lawyer’s words to me….I am only convinced that we see what we are expected to see! …and why slip in “the easy target” “commercial”???!!
She tried to use them….maybe…then they use her…..????
Definitely clear as mud!
jg