Disgraced Former Bishop Brendan Comiskey, Who Resigned After Failing To Address Child Abuse, Dies

Monday, 28 April 2025 14:33

By Martin Osborne

Comiskey resigned following accusations that he failed to report allegations of child abuse against Fr. Sean Fortune during his leadership of the Ferns diocese.

A former Bishop of the Diocese of Ferns, who resigned in 2002 following his failure to address allegations of clerical abuse, has died.

Brendan Comiskey was 89-years-old.

Comiskey's failure to address the allegations led to the publication of the Ferns report, an inquiry into child sexual abuse.

He resigned following accusations that he failed to report allegations of child abuse against Fr. Sean Fortune during his leadership of the Ferns diocese.

Fortune, a serial paedophile known for his manipulative nature, was someone Dr. Comiskey admitted he struggled to manage.

Fortune died by suicide while out on bail.

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