Consultation on Casey interment in Galway crypt begins following allegations

A period of “careful consideration and consultation” has begun into the interment of Bishop Eamonn Casey’s remains in a cathedral crypt, the Galway Diocesan Office has said.

The statement was made days after an investigation by the Irish Daily Mail and RTE revealed allegations of sexual abuse against the former Galway bishop.

Mr Casey gained worldwide notoriety in 1992 after it came to light he had a son with American divorcee Annie Murphy and had paid her thousands for his upkeep in the US.

He died, aged 89, in a nursing home in the west of Ireland in 2017 following a long illness.

He was interred in the crypt of Galway’s Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and Saint Nicholas after his funeral mass was held there.

In a statement on Saturday, the Galway Diocesan Office said that Bishop of Galway Michael Duignan had stated during the week that he is committed to “working with anybody affected, to help bring truth, healing and peace to such terribly painful situations”.

“In this context, the interment of the remains of Bishop Casey in the crypt beneath Galway Cathedral is a very sensitive issue that deeply affects people in different ways, and which has different facets,” the diocesan office said.

“The interment of Bishop Casey in the Cathedral crypt now requires a period of careful consideration and consultation, which has already begun.

“Time and space are required to adequately and appropriately bring this undertaking to completion.

“We will not be making any further public comment until we are in a position to provide an update.”