FR DAN DUANE SHOCKS CORK WITH SEX ABUSE CONVICTION AT CHURCH TRIBUNAL

On March 23, 2013, a significant and distressing development unfolded within the Diocese of Cloyne, located in Cork, as a canonical tribunal delivered a verdict that has sent shockwaves through the community. The tribunal, which was held in strict confidentiality at the Nano Nagle Centre outside Mallow, involved three canon law judges who examined multiple allegations against the retired priest, Fr Dan Duane, aged 75, originally from Mallow.

Over the years, authorities and victims had lodged up to 11 complaints with the Gardaí concerning Fr Dan Duane’s conduct. Despite the numerous allegations, only two cases proceeded to prosecution, both of which resulted in verdicts of not guilty. Nevertheless, civil settlements had been reached with at least five victims, indicating ongoing efforts by the diocese to address the allegations outside the criminal justice system.

The canonical court’s judgment was unequivocal. It concluded, with what it described as “moral certainty,” that Fr Dan Duane had engaged in sexual abuse of minors and teenagers during his time serving as a priest within the Diocese of Cloyne. The judges emphasized that their decision was definitive, stating that “the decision of the court as a result of their findings is that” Fr Duane “should be dismissed from the clerical state.”

Victims and supporters gathered at the Nano Nagle Centre to witness the announcement, and many expressed a mixture of relief and emotional release. The tribunal’s decision was not merely a recommendation but a binding verdict, and the judges reassured the victims that it was final. In a statement issued by the diocese, officials confirmed that “a number of complaints of sexual abuse of minors against a priest of the Diocese of Cloyne have been upheld by a canonical penal trial,” leading to Fr Duane’s dismissal from the clerical state. The diocese also pledged to continue providing counseling and pastoral support to those affected, expressing “deep regret at the suffering that has been caused.”

Among the victims present was Isabella O’Mahony, who described her feelings as “a massive sense of relief.” She recounted her emotional response, saying, “For me, the best thing was just hearing the verdict and asking them to read it again and again. I feel like crying but I feel like cheering. I just feel lighter as, for the first time ever, the Church has listened and believed us.”

Another victim, Sinead, reflected on the broader context of justice, acknowledging the pain caused by the criminal justice system’s failure to convict Fr Duane. She emphasized that the canonical decision was a significant victory, stating, “Our battle for justice has been relentless, and only succeeded because we, as a group, refused to give up.” Sinead also expressed a sense of validation, remarking, “I feel a great sense of relief today. In some ways, it might be better that his church and peers found him guilty, as clearly he has no respect for the criminal law system.”

It is important to note that Fr Dan Duane had previously faced legal proceedings. In May 2011, Cork Circuit Criminal Court Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin directed that Fr Duane be found not guilty of indecently assaulting a teenager, citing the 30-year delay in making the complaint as a key factor. Later, six months after that ruling, Fr Duane was again acquitted of indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl—one of the women who testified at the canonical tribunal—who had come forward with her allegations 31 years after the alleged incident.

During the tribunal, the woman expressed her frustration with the legal system, stating, “We have struggled with a legal system that has consistently let us down. It is ironic, therefore, that it is the Church, which at first turned us away, that now finds Dan Duane unanimously guilty.”

Fr Dan Duane now has 15 days to lodge an appeal against the canonical court’s decision. However, the implementation of the verdict will be postponed until the appeal process is completed, leaving the community and victims in a state of cautious anticipation.