The Bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh has been harshly criticised for implying that gardaí should not pursue crim­inal convictions against the perpetrators of child clerical sex abuse as it may not "help the victims".

Speaking on Newstalk radio's Breakfast Show last week, Walsh said: "Going after and punishing people for something they did many years ago, does it, you know, does it help the victims?"

A garda investigation to review the Ryan commission's report into clerical abuse of children with a team of 'crime analysts' has begun at Harcourt Square.

The team – led by senior officer Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne – will, with the help of social services, approach victims who gave statements to the commission to request formal statements against their attackers.

Gardaí also intend to pursue clerical abusers living abroad.

Anyone with information about clerical abuse is asked to contact Harcourt Square station.

A garda source said a "steady stream" of calls was being received daily by people who suffered abuse at the hands of clerics and lay people at religious-run institutions.

Bernadette Sullivan, of the Dignity 4 Patients organisation – which represents patients who experienced sexual trauma in a medical setting – described the bishop's comments as "inappropriate".

"For a considerable number of all victims of sexual abuse, a significant part of their recovery is to see people held accountable.

"All the victims I have dealt with are carrying around a life sentence of suffering and it would help them for those responsible to be brought to justice," she said.

One in Four, which supports people who have experienced sexual abuse, also expressed surprise at Bishop Walsh's comments.

"I am surprised at Bishop Willie Walsh's comments as he's usually attuned to the survivors of abuse," said One in Four's executive director, Maeve Lewis.

"Willie Walsh is one of the few bishops who have been absolutely supportive of the survivors since the beginning.

"We'd encourage anyone who was abused to go to the gardaí. It's only if survivors make a complaint that the gardaí can pursue it."

Since the Ryan report was published three weeks ago, more than 300 victims of clerical abuse have made contact with the group.

"We invite these people in to talk to us and then contact the gardaí on their behalf and they can be interviewed here rather than in a garda station," she added.