Castlewellan priest returns to duties

Castlewellan priest returns to duties

4 January 2012

A CASTLEWELLAN priest cleared of sex abuse allegations has returned to the ministry.

Fr. Sean Cahill stepped aside from St. Malachy’s Church in February 2010 after an allegation was made against him dating back to the 1970s.

Last August, it was confirmed Fr. Cahill was no longer the subject of a police investigation and the Bishop of Down and Connor, Noel Treanor, said he was “delighted” to be in Castlewellan on New Year’s Day to welcome Fr. Cahill back to the ministry.

He said Fr. Cahill had served the people in the parish of Castlewellan and Kilmegan with “dedication and commitment” and as a priest for almost 50 years. Bishop Treanor said he welcomed Fr. Cahill back with “an unblemished character.”

He said like parishioners in Castlewellan, he was “shocked” by the allegations conveyed to him in February 2010, explaining that in accordance with the requirements of both civil law and church policy, advice was sought at that time from the PSNI, Social Services and the Diocesan safeguarding bodies.

“Fr. Cahill decided to step aside voluntarily from ministry during the police investigation,” Bishop Treanor continued.

He also explained that after “thorough and lengthy investigation” by the police and the Public Prosecution Service, an investigation with which Fr. Cahill and the Diocese co-operated fully, the PSNI, Public Prosecution Service, Social Services and he as Bishop are satisfied that “there was no basis for the allegation.”

Bishop Treanor continued: “The preliminary canonical enquiry has been completed and Fr. Cahill has resumed priestly

ministry, the same innocent priest he was when he voluntarily stepped aside in February 2010.

“Unfounded allegations have a devastating effect on any person, but the allegations levelled against Fr. Cahill — who has dedicated his life to selfless service of church and community — damage not only his life, but also his family, his parish, his diocese, the church and wider society.”

Bishop Treanor said in addition, “such baseless allegations do colossal damage to the cause of the genuine survivors of abuse, including clerical abuse.”

However, he said Fr. Cahill’s resumption of his ministry is “day of joy for the start of a New Year.”

Bishop Treanor continued: “Fr. Cahill now resumes ministry in the Diocese of Down and Connor in the knowledge that his suffering over the past two years, borne with such personal courage and strength, supported by his family, by friends and by his parishioners is at an end.

“He has asked me to thank the parishioners of Kilmegan for their unflinching support for him through their prayers, thoughts and acts of kindness. In his name and on his behalf I do so with profound gratitude to you.”