‘Forbidden’ to act as a priest

Documents obtained by Patricia Donovan through her solicitor reveal the limitations the church imposed on her brother, Fr michael Donovan. they include correspondence regarding her uncle Bishop eamonn casey, as revealed in the Irish mail on sunday on march 24. As with much of the correspondence previously published relating to Bishop casey, large parts of the files concerning her brother – who faced three complaints of alleged abuse within the Limerick Diocese before his death in 2018 – were redacted.

In one letter from november 2005, thenBishop of Limerick Donal murray wrote to one authority – the identity of which has been redacted or blacked out – about Fr Donovan’s ministry.

It reads: ‘A nephew of [redacted], who has been out of ministry and forbidden to present himself as a priest since my arrival in Limerick’ (below).

Bishop murray was forced to resign as Bishop of Limerick in november 2009 after the murphy Report found that he had mishandled child sexual abuse allegations within the Dublin Diocese. the report described his lack of action as ‘inexcusable’.

Another letter from Bishop murray sent to Fr Donovan, dated november 12, 2005, reads: ‘I am sorry to have to tell you that another complaint has been received, this time from your sister Patricia. she made this complaint in england in the last few days and I have not received any details… I am sure this is distressing news for you and I am sorry to have to convey it to you by letter. obviously, there will have to be an investigation into this by the gardaí.’