The media events were Magee's first comments in five weeks on the Murphy Report into the handling of sexual abuse in the Cloyne diocese and in particular Magee's mis-management of the it.

"You don't agree to talk to someone giving the impression that you are being door-stepped. You don't read out a statement or, if you feel you have to, you make sure that someone who knows something about words has a look at it beforehand," Hoban said.

"You don't justify or explain, when the evidence is conclusive and the jury has already gone home."

"You turn up. You tell the truth. You hold up your hands."

"It's not brain surgery. It's just being media savvy."

Hoban said: "The difficult truth at present is that bishops are not believed or trusted. Even if they said the Our Father there would be something wrong with it."

"Old men in black suits conjure up frightening, not reassuring images. Being Catholic is the last great stigma."

He noted that "every bishop is lord in his own diocese and the culture of deference that assures them they are competent in every imaginable subject makes it almost impossible for them to actually accept that in certain instances they are completely out of their depths."

"Part of the difficulty is that they seem not to understand how much the ground has moved under their feet."

Hoban is of the view the Magee interview is a media lesson and simply underlined the problems the Church has.

"There are rules that have emerged from the experience of dealing with difficult issues . . . There are things you do and things you don't do. And the Magee interview was an object lesson in what not to do."

Sources

• Irish Times
• Cork Independent

ACP spokesman, Fr Tony Flannery said five minutes on the doorstep was not adequate given the questions raised by the Murphy report.

"While we welcome his interview we don't feel it's enough. There are many questions which are left which need to be addressed.

"We also feel that the language he used does not connect sufficiently with those involved - it's just not clear enough".

A woman of the Cloyne diocese said Magee's apology was meaningless.

"I'm not impressed by his apology. If he crawled on his belly it would be too late," said the victim.

On Monday, an ashamed Magee begged forgiveness for failing to protect children and investigate abusive priests, according to Kerryman.ie.

"I fully understand why they are angry - I let them down, by not fully implementing the guidelines which were available to me," he said.

"I deeply, deeply regret not ensuring that the guidelines, which were my responsibility to implement, were not complied with and I ask for forgiveness for the way in which I have carried out this critically important aspect of my work."

A spokesperson for the Catholic bishops has welcomed Magee's offer to meet survivors of child sexual abuse inflicted by some of the clergy in the diocese of Cloyne.

Irish Innovation Minister Sean Sherlock has however slated as "unconscionable" Magee's refusal to answer fresh questions over a report into clerical child abuse in his diocese.

"I am astounded that he (Magee) has said he has nothing to add to his original statement," Mr Sherlock said.

"If he has any shred of human decency or moral fibre he will face the media and answer any and all questions put to him. It is the least that people deserve," he added.

Magee made the World news when the Murphy Report into sexual abuse in the Cloyne diocese exposed him for as recently as three years ago ignoring guidelines agreed by bishops in 1996 to keep youngsters safe.

The report also criticised him for writing one report for the Vatican and falsely telling the State the diocese was reporting all abuse allegations to civil authorities.

Sources

• Independent.ie
• Independent.ie
• RTE News Ireland
• BBC
• BBC
• Image: RTE News Ireland

In a statement the diocese said it has sold property and used its cash reserves but these options are almost exhausted.

"Ultimately the diocese and each parish depend on the generosity of the faithful in the weekly collections and other contributions for the funding of our activities and the meeting of our commitments. We are continually grateful for their generosity and support."

Like the Dublin diocese which last week admitted it was on the brink of financial collapse, the Cloyne diocese says it is in this position because of a downturn in those coming to Mass, a fall-off in donations and the settlements it has reached with victims of sexual abuse.

The Cloyne diocese made the World news when the Murphy Report criticised Bishop John Magee for writing one report for the Vatican and falsely telling the State the diocese was reporting all abuse allegations to civil authorities.

Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny recently slammed the Vatican, calling its handling of the sexual abuse scandal as "elitist" and "narcissistic".

Next month talks begin to discus who compensates the victims, and the Irish Government is wanting the Catholic Church to hand over cash and real estate worth around NZ$2.4 billion, which is a long way short of what the religious organisations have offered.

In 2002, the government agreed to cap the religious orders' contribution at NZ$222 million, however false reporting of sexual abuse cases to state authorities means the government is now looking for a greater contribution from the Church.

Bishop Magee has returned to Ireland but is hiding from the public eye.

Sources

• Independent
• CathNews
• Independent
• Image: NJ News

According to the Irish Independent, Magee visited his retirement property in Mitchelstown, but he is not at the parochial house in the north-Cork town.

The Independent's sources say he is staying with friends.

While the Irish Police have no plans to contact Magee over the Cloyne Report, his return is expected to renew demands for him to answer questions about his mishandling of the clerical child abuse allegations.

Church spokesman Martin Long said he had nothing further to add to earlier comments of Archbishop Dermot Clifford, who is now running the Cork diocese.

Archbishop Clifford comprehensively dealt with the report publication last month and said he understood that Magee was abroad.

At the time, Clifford said it would have been "helpful" had Magee personally faced the media.

Magee the former archbishop of Cloyne and personal secretary to three popes has not informed the diocese of his future plans.

Sources

• Irish Independent
• Breaking News
• Image: Irish Independent