Monies 'were not paid into fund'

Dr Brady said money came from sale of diocesan properties

No money paid by Catholic parishioners for specific purposes has been used for a fund for victims of clerical abuse, the Archbishop of Armagh has said.

Catholic Primate Sean Brady said cash donated by congregations for missions and the education of student priests was not diverted to the fund.

It follows the Bishop of Derry's regret about the "disquiet" caused by paying parishioners' money into the fund.

Dr Seamus Hegarty made the statement after parishioners' complaints.

Parishioners were angry their money was being paid into the Stewardship Trust without their knowledge.

The fund was set up by the Irish bishops to fund child protection initiatives and provide financial redress to victims of child sexual abuse by priests.

The only money used for the Stewardship Trust is money not ring fenced for a specific purpose, for example money realised from the sale of diocesan land or property Dr Patrick Walsh Bishop of Down and Connor

Dr Brady said: "To date, the Archdiocese of Armagh's contribution to the Stewardship Trust has come from diocesan funds accumulated over the years, for example, by way of investment returns and also from funds realised by the sale of diocesan properties in the past.

"In the future the Archdiocese of Armagh plans to contribute to the Stewardship Trust Fund by income received from the sale of other properties in the diocese and other monies that are not set aside for a specific purpose.

"The annual contribution from the Archdiocese of Armagh is 266,596 euros."

'Collection money'

Dr Hegarty admitted imposing a levy on all parishes within the Derry diocese to raise money for the fund.

His statement said that he "sincerely regrets" the disquiet caused by donations being paid into the trust.

Dr Hegarty admitted imposing a levy on all parishes

It also said a letter explaining the church's obligations would be circulated throughout the diocese as soon as practicable.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh, has said no parish collection money or diocesan appeal money had been put into the fund.

He said the annual Down and Connor contribution to the fund was £266,999.

"The only money used for the Stewardship Trust is money not ring fenced for a specific purpose, for example money realised from the sale of diocesan land or property," he said.