Noel Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Fr Noel Reynolds was a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin
who died in 1997. He served as curate in eight parishes including Rathcoole
, parish priest of Glendalough
, County Wicklow
and then chaplain at the National Rehabilitation Centre, Dun Laoghaire
, County Dublin
.
Reynolds was a self-confessed paedophile. Complaints about him surfaced in 1995 but he was not removed from ministry until 1998 when the first formal complaint was made.
Cardinal
Desmond Connell
admitted he knew about the “inappropriate behaviour” of Reynolds two years before he reassigned him from a parish to a hospital chaplaincy and three years before he finally removed him from duty.
A colleague of Reynolds, Fr Arthur O’Neill revealed he had reported concerns about Fr Noel Reynolds when he was parish priest of Rathnew
, Co Wicklow, and Fr Reynolds was parish priest in neighbouring Glendalough
, but Reynolds was allowed to continue his duties. Reynolds later admitted that he abused more than 100 children in eight parishes. Reynolds resigned from his role as parish priest on health grounds but Connell neglected to inform National Rehabilitation Hospital authorities where was to become chaplain in 1997 that Reynolds was a paedophile.
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...
who died in 1997. He served as curate in eight parishes including Rathcoole
Rathcoole
Rathcoole may refer to:* Rathcoole, Dublin, a village in south Dublin, Republic of Ireland* Rathcoole , a large housing estate in Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK* Rathcoole Aerodrome Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland...
, parish priest of Glendalough
Glendalough
Glendalough or Glendaloch is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and partly destroyed in 1398 by English troops....
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
and then chaplain at the National Rehabilitation Centre, Dun Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
.
Reynolds was a self-confessed paedophile. Complaints about him surfaced in 1995 but he was not removed from ministry until 1998 when the first formal complaint was made.
Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Desmond Connell
Desmond Connell
Desmond Connell is a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He is a former Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin....
admitted he knew about the “inappropriate behaviour” of Reynolds two years before he reassigned him from a parish to a hospital chaplaincy and three years before he finally removed him from duty.
A colleague of Reynolds, Fr Arthur O’Neill revealed he had reported concerns about Fr Noel Reynolds when he was parish priest of Rathnew
Rathnew
Rathnew is a village of County Wicklow, Ireland. Located south of the capital Dublin along the N11 between Dublin and Wexford, it is the exit point for those wishing to visit the county town of Wicklow, situated to the East.-Education:...
, Co Wicklow, and Fr Reynolds was parish priest in neighbouring Glendalough
Glendalough
Glendalough or Glendaloch is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and partly destroyed in 1398 by English troops....
, but Reynolds was allowed to continue his duties. Reynolds later admitted that he abused more than 100 children in eight parishes. Reynolds resigned from his role as parish priest on health grounds but Connell neglected to inform National Rehabilitation Hospital authorities where was to become chaplain in 1997 that Reynolds was a paedophile.
See also
- Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
- Roman Catholic priests accused of sex offenses
- Ferns Report, on sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns, Ireland
- Crimen sollicitationisCrimen sollicitationisCrimen sollicitationis is the title of a 1962 document of the Holy Office codifying procedures to be followed in cases of priests or bishops of the Catholic Church accused of having used the sacrament of Penance to make sexual advances to penitents.It repeated, with additions, the contents of an...
- Pontifical SecretPontifical secretThe pontifical secret or pontifical secrecy or papal secrecy is the code of confidentiality that, in accordance with the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, applies in matters that require greater than ordinary confidentiality:...