The Green Party leader and Minister for Environment has said he would have no difficulty with gardaí investigating the circumstances in which two children were asked to sign oaths of secrecy during the Church inquiry, involving the then Fr Seán Brady, into Fr Brendan Smyth in 1975. John Gormley said there were conflicting views on whether this might have constituted a criminal offence, but if it were appropriate he would have no difficulty with gardaí investigating the matter.
He was commenting on disclosures about Cardinal Brady's involvement with the inquiry in 1975.
Asked if the Cardinal should resign the Minister said:
'It is a matter for the Church authorities and indeed for the Cardinal himself. I suppose in many ways, it is a case of evil triumphing while a good man stood back from a situation. I suppose it is a matter for the Church authorities themselves and Cardinal Brady and his own conscience. He will have to deal with that.'
He said it was very clear none of those involved in the inquiry reported these matters to gardaí and an 'evil character' like Fr Smyth was able to continue his abuse for many years.
It was 'a deeply regrettable situation', he added.
The Minister said no decision had been made yet on extending the Murphy Inquiry to other dioceses or on whether issues such as children signing oaths of secrecy should be included in any new terms of reference.
The important thing, he said, was for the survivors of abuse to be satisfied with the terms of reference when they are decided.
Earlier, the Catholic Communications Office said that in 1975, Bishop Francis McKiernan advised that the Norbertine order should have Fr Smyth treated by a psychiatrist.
In a statement on the role Cardinal Brady played when he was a priest in dealing with Fr Smyth, a spokesman said the advice was given at the same time that Bishop McKiernan withdrew Fr Smyth's right to celebrate mass, hear confession and perform his other functions as a priest.
The spokesman said the two boys at the centre of the inquiry were asked to confirm the truthfulness of their statements and that they would preserve the confidentiality of the interview process.
He says it was important to ensure the process was robust enough to withstand a challenge by the perpetrator, Fr Smyth.
A spokesman for the Norbertine Order has said that they will not be commenting on the statement.
Meanwhile, another group representing victims of clerical child abuse has questioned Cardinal Brady's decision to remain in office .
Voice of the Faithful, a lay organisation of Catholics, questioned how the Cardinal believed he could now provide the leadership that was needed to draw a line under all that had happened.
The group says it cannot understand why Cardinal Brady believes he should not resign after his own statement in December in which he said he would do so if he thought any failure of his to act had caused a child to suffer.
It says the Cardinal's failure to challenge the culture of Church silence surrounding clerical child sexual abuse in the period of 1975 to 1994 is a most serious matter and leaves the Irish Catholic Church without a leader that survivors in particular can have full confidence in.
Cardinal Brady has already rejected claims that he failed to act in 1975 when two young victims of the late Fr Smyth were asked to sign an oath of secrecy.
Cardinal Brady said he was not the designated person responsible for contacting the relevant statutory authorities.
On RTÉ's The Frontline programme last night, lecturer at University College Dublin Fr Brendan Purcell said Cardinal Brady had been through a process of learning how to deal with clerical sex abuse and his departure as head of the Catholic Church in Ireland would deprive it of a very experienced leader.
One helpline recorded a significant increase in calls following the latest revelations.
The Rape Crisis Centre said it had to bring in extra staff to cope with the rise in calls last night.
HELPLINES
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800-778888 (24 hour helpline)
HSE helpline: 1800-235234 (office hours)
One in Four: 01-6624070 (office hours)
The Samaritans: 1850-609090 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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SIC: RTÉ