Donal Murray
Encyclopedia
Donal Brendan Murray was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Limerick
from 1996 to 2009. He had previously served as an Auxiliary Bishop
of the Dublin diocese
, studied for a BA and Masters degrees in Philosophy at University College Dublin
, obtained a B.Div at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
and his Licence and Doctorate in theology in Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). He was ordained on 22 May 1966.
from 1969, becoming professor of moral theology at Clonliffe College
. He also lectured at UCD – from 1973 to 1982 in Catechetics and from 1978 to 1982 in Medical Ethics.
In 1981 he was appointed Titular Bishop
of Glenndálocha
and Auxiliary Bishop
of Dublin, making him the youngest bishop at the time, aged only 41. He was appointed as bishop of Limerick on 10 February 1996 by Pope John Paul II
. He was installed as Bishop of Limerick on 24 March 1996.
found that he had mishandled child sexual abuse
allegations within his diocese.
He announced his resignation to a congregation, including priests of the Diocese, people working in the Diocesan Office and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, at 11 am (noon in Rome, the hour of the publication of the decision) in St. John’s Cathedral, Limerick.
Bishop of Limerick
The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of...
from 1996 to 2009. He had previously served as an Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Dublin diocese
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dublin, , is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in eastern Ireland centred around the republic's capital city – Dublin. The see of Dublin was raised to the status of a Metropolitan Province by the Synod of Kells in 1152. Its jurisdiction includes much of the Province of...
Early life and ordination
He was born in Dublin in 1940, was educated at Blackrock CollegeBlackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
, studied for a BA and Masters degrees in Philosophy at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, obtained a B.Div at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
and his Licence and Doctorate in theology in Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). He was ordained on 22 May 1966.
Priest and bishop
He lectured in the Mater Dei Institute of EducationMater Dei Institute of Education
Mater Dei Institute of Education is a linked college of Dublin City University since 1999, located in Drumcondra, Dublin City, Ireland, near Croke Park, on the site of what was formerly Clonliffe College, the Roman Catholic Seminary for the Archdiocese of Dublin...
from 1969, becoming professor of moral theology at Clonliffe College
Holy Cross College (Dublin)
Holy Cross College , located in Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra was founded in 1854 as the Catholic diocesan seminary for Dublin by Cardinal Paul Cullen...
. He also lectured at UCD – from 1973 to 1982 in Catechetics and from 1978 to 1982 in Medical Ethics.
In 1981 he was appointed Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Glenndálocha
Bishop of Glendalough
The Bishop of Glendalough was an episcopal title which took its name after the monastery at Glendalough in County Wicklow, Ireland. An Irish version of the place name, Glenndálocha, is now used for a titular see.-History:...
and Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Dublin, making him the youngest bishop at the time, aged only 41. He was appointed as bishop of Limerick on 10 February 1996 by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He was installed as Bishop of Limerick on 24 March 1996.
Abuse scandal
In November 2009, he was pressured to resign from his post after the Murphy ReportMurphy Report
The Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin...
found that he had mishandled child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
allegations within his diocese.
He announced his resignation to a congregation, including priests of the Diocese, people working in the Diocesan Office and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, at 11 am (noon in Rome, the hour of the publication of the decision) in St. John’s Cathedral, Limerick.
See also
- Murphy ReportMurphy ReportThe Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin...
- Catholic sexual abuse scandal in IrelandCatholic sexual abuse scandal in IrelandThe Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Ireland is a major chapter in the worldwide Catholic sexual abuse scandal. Unlike the Catholic sexual abuse scandal in the United States, the scandal in Ireland included cases of high-profile Catholic clerics involved in illicit heterosexual relations as well as...
- Roman Catholic sex abuse cases by country
- Roman Catholicism in IrelandRoman Catholicism in IrelandThe Catholic Church in Ireland is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church with full communion with the Pope, currently Benedict XVI...
- Ivan PayneIvan PayneFr. Ivan Payne is an Irish Roman Catholic priest convicted as a child molester.-Career:He was ordained a priest in 1967 and was attached to the Archdiocese of Dublin. His first appointment was as chaplain in a convent in Killiney, County Dublin from February 1968 to September 1978...
– subject of chapter 24 of the Murphy ReportMurphy ReportThe Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin... - Thomas NaughtonThomas NaughtonFr Thomas Naughton is a priest of St Patrick's Missionary Order, Kiltegan, County Wicklow, who was found guilty of the indecent assault of minors. He was one of 46 priests mentioned in the Murphy Report.-Early career and sex offences:...
– named in chapter 29 of the Murphy ReportMurphy ReportThe Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin... - ArchbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Diarmuid MartinDiarmuid MartinDiarmuid Martin is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin.-Early life and education:...
, Primate of IrelandPrimate of IrelandThe Primacy of Ireland was historically disputed between the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin until finally settled by Pope Innocent VI. Primate is a title of honour denoting ceremonial precedence in the Church, and in the Middle Ages there was an intense rivalry between the two...
and Archbishop of DublinArchbishop of DublinThe Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.... - Eamonn Oliver WalshEamonn Oliver WalshEamonn Oliver Walsh is an Irish Catholic bishop and is one of the two active Auxiliary Bishops of Dublin, the other being Raymond W. Field....
, Auxiliary Bishop of DublinRoman Catholic Archdiocese of DublinThe Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dublin, , is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in eastern Ireland centred around the republic's capital city – Dublin. The see of Dublin was raised to the status of a Metropolitan Province by the Synod of Kells in 1152. Its jurisdiction includes much of the Province of...
– named in report - Martin DrennanMartin DrennanMartin Drennan is the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Kilfenora.-Early life and ordination:He was born in Piltown, County Kilkenny, Ireland...
, Bishop of Galway, and former Auxiliary Bishop of DublinRoman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and KilfenoraThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...