Bishop of Limerick resigns: Click here to watch the video
POPE Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray. The formal announcement was made in the Vatican at 11 O'clock this morning as Dr Murray addressed a gathering at St John's Cathedral in the city.
Addressing the gathering Dr Murray said he had formally tendered his resignation on Monday December 7 and that it takes effects from today.
In his address Dr Murray acknowledged that his resignation "cannot undo the pain" of survivers of clerical child abuse.
Bishop Murray's resignation was confirmed less than 24 hours after paedophile priest Fr Tom Naughton was jailed for three years for the sexual abuse of an altar boy in Valleymount, County Wicklow.
It was for what the Murphy Report called his "inexcusable" failure to reinvestigate complaints in Valleymount about this priest that Dr Murray faced calls to step down from the victims of paedophile priests and from other members of the clergy and the hierarchy.
It is understood Cardinal Sean Brady was informed of developments yesterday.
Pressure will now come on four other serving bishops named in the Murphy Report to also step aside.
For full reaction to the resignation of the bishop, see this week's city edition of the Limerick Leader
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Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South east
