Sean Brady: out-of-court deal

Cardinal Sean Brady has refused to say if he sought the inclusion of a "gagging clause" as part of an out-of-court settlement, said to be worth more than €250,000, with a woman who was abused as a child by Fr Brendan Smyth.

Marie McCormack sued Brady in his personal and official capacities, along with the diocese of Kilmore and the Norbertine Order to which Smyth belonged, after she was sexually abused by Smyth between 1970 and 1975.

It was reported last week that the settlement was made without admission of liability and included apologies by the defendants.

McCormack's High Court action led to disclosures last March that Brady had been involved in canonical investigations into abuse allegations against Smyth in 1975 which involved two young people. He believed both complainants and swore them to secrecy at the end of his inquiry in the Kilmore diocese.

The Sunday Tribune last week asked Brady to outline details of the settlement, including whether it was subject to a confidentiality clause, and if so whether it would apply to all parties in the case.

He was also asked to specify if any such clause was requested by him or his representatives. However, his spokesman declined to discuss the case.