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CARDINAL'S SIN: Catholic Primate Sean Brady after a recent press conference in Rome

Abuse victim's legal case dragging on for 13 years

CARDINAL Brady has been fighting a compensation case brought by one of Brendan Smyth's victims since 1997, the year after he became Catholic Primate of All Ireland.

Inside Opinion

Pope takes steps to real contrition

Pope Benedict has taken an important first step in what will be a long road of reconciliation between his church and the Irish people. His pastoral letter, which will be read in Roman Catholic churches across Ireland today, is far from being an adequate response to the suffering caused by his church in recent decades, but it is a start. He recognises the grave errors of his bishops and tells the victims of abuse that their "trust has been betrayed and [their] dignity has been violated".

Pensions bailout will be mother of all Namas

God help anyone in the private sector who is retiring in the next few years. Far removed from the guaranteed Rolls Royce pension enjoyed by those in the employ of the State, employees in the so-called real economy face the threat of being left with nothing come the day they walk out of work for the last time.

Ruth Dudley Edwards: Scandal shows how prone we are to hypocrisy and hysteria

I had a struggle to feel proud to be Irish this St Patrick's Day. Normally I would have smiled tolerantly at the ubiquitous shamrock-bespattered leprechaun hats and orange beards infesting central London. But I was afflicted by an attack of existential gloom, brought on by listening to Morning Ireland in full cry over Cardinal Sean Brady.

Beware of bearded zealots

Sir -- "The Bearded Zealots" must not hold us to ransom. I congratulate you on your splendid leading article (Sunday Independent, March 14). In terms of relevance, it was a classic.