A parish priest anonymously and falsely accused of child sexual abuse has said he was cut loose and hung out to dry by Catholic Church authorities.
Fr Tim Hazelwood, priest of Killeagh, Co Cork, recently settled a High Court action and got an apology from the man who made the allegation in 2010.
“After six years my accuser has now settled the court action I had taken. I have received a detailed signed retraction and admission that lies had been told and a signed apology was received. My legal fees were paid and a generous donation to my nominated charity has been paid,” the priest said.
“While I have no understanding behind the motives of my accuser, my reflections are mainly around my church, which I felt cut me loose, hung me out to dry, disowned me and left me feeling very alone. I struggled between my desire to clear my name and the expectation to lie low and to say nothing, hoping that it will go away.”
False allegations
Fr Hazelwood was on the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) delegation which met four bishops, representatives of the Irish Episcopal Conference, in
Maynooth
last month. Among matters discussed was stress engendered among priests by a fear of false allegations of abuse.
Writing on the ACP website, Fr Hazelwood said that despite the allegation being anonymous, “my diocese proceeded to inform the police and the health board, giving them my name”.
Preparing his High Court case the priest was met with "a total lack of co-operation" from his Cloyne diocese.
He felt “totally abandoned by ‘my church’. Justice involves accountability and an admission of the wrongs that have been done both by the organisation and by individuals.
“But can that or will that happen? I have my doubts. I hope and pray to be proven wrong,” he said.
