Church Issues Apology to Affected Sisters for Unhealed Wounds
In a significant turn of events, the Raphoe Diocese acknowledged its pastoral failures in the care and concern for the Martin sisters over several decades. Two sisters, Margaret and Paula Martin, were abused by Con Cunningham in Co Donegal.
The apology, issued in July 2021, came after the Diocese was alerted to criminal charges against Cunningham related to his abuse of another child in the 1970s in 2018. The abuse took place at a number of locations in Donegal.
The letter of apology, penned by Monsignor Gillespie, repeated the Diocese's apology for the 'profound failures' and their effects on the lives of the Martin sisters and their families and friends. The Diocese also acknowledged that it reported the sisters' complaints to the Gardai for the first time in 2002, eight years after they first confided in Bishop Seamus Hegarty.
In 2002, the sisters sought specific measures: Cunningham's resignation, prohibition from contact with children, and a formal response to their complaints. Cunningham, indeed, resigned his position as Parish Priest and agreed to cease public ministry, putting in writing that he accepted the truth of the complaints.
However, the sisters expressed concern that adequate steps had not been taken by the Diocese in its supervision of Cunningham between 2002 and 2018. They also highlighted the distress they experienced when they were thrust into a criminal investigative process, as they were not yet ready for it.
In a shocking turn of events, Cunningham was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Letterkenny Circuit Court in 2021. He was laicized on 17 March 2022.
It is worth noting that the sisters waived their right to anonymity to name Cunningham. However, there are no publicly available specific details about other victims exploited by Con Cunningham in County Donegal or when they reported their allegations to authorities in the provided search results.
In the letter to the Martin sisters, Monsignor Gillespie acknowledged that the Diocese failed to report complaints of this nature to the civil authorities between 1996 and 2002. The Diocese has not yet addressed this issue publicly.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of prompt and effective action in cases of abuse, and the need for institutions to prioritise the well-being and safety of those in their care.
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