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Bishop “feels shame” about abuse linked to Church

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The Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne, has said he “feels shame” that many victims of sexual abuse have suffered at the hands of members of the clergy.

He also said that safeguarding is crucial when it comes to preventing further crimes.

In a statement to mark the day of the year that Catholics in Ireland are asked to offer prayers for the survivors and victims of sexual abuse, Bishop Browne reflected on the “trauma, distress and pain” that can be suffered by a person who was abused as a child.

“Some victims/survivors seem to heal well, sadly many do not,” he said. “That many such victims have been abused by a priest or another Church person, – I feel shame. It is a reality that the Church has to continue to face up to.”

“One important thing we can do is promote good safeguarding practice. The better our safeguarding practice, the less likely there will be opportunities for abusers to have access to children they can abuse, and also the greater the possibility of the abusers being caught at a very early stage.”

Figures released in 2013 revealed that in spite of 67 allegations being made against 21 Kerry priests since 1975, only one member of the clergy was ever convicted. 25 allegations were made against the late Fr Patrick McAuliffe alone, with four more being made since that initial report. McAuliffe, a diocesan inspector, had access to every Catholic primary school in the county.

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Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

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Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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