Gardaí take no further action on Bishop Eamonn Casey investigation file
Patricia Donovan, niece of the late Bishop Eamonn Casey, claimed he first raped her at the age of five and that the abuse continued for years, among multiple child sex abuse allegations made against him in Galway. The allegations were reported to gardaí but Casey was never charged, and he died in 2017. In 2025, following an RTÉ documentary titled Bishop Casey's Buried Secrets, the Garda National Protective Services Bureau reviewed the original investigation file at the request of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. The review concluded that no further investigative actions were identified, and gardaí are taking no further action on the file.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Patricia Donovan, Casey's niece, claimed he first raped her at the age of five and that the abuse continued for years.
- Multiple child sex abuse allegations were made against Bishop Eamonn Casey.
- Where
- The allegations relate to Galway.
- Investigation
- The child sexual abuse allegations were reported to gardaí but Casey was never charged.
- The Garda National Protective Services Bureau reviewed the original investigation file at the request of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
- The review concluded that no further investigative actions were identified and gardaí are taking no further action on the file.
- Other details
- The review was prompted by an RTÉ documentary titled Bishop Casey's Buried Secrets.
- Casey, the former Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh, died in 2017.
- He resigned as bishop in 1992 after it was revealed he had an affair with woman Annie Murphy, resulting in the birth of their son.
- His remains were removed from the crypt of Galway Cathedral and are now with his family.
- Casey vehemently denied all allegations when he was alive.
9 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPatricia Donovan claimed he first raped her at five years old and the abuse continued for years. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are taking no further action into the original investigation file on Bishop Eamonn Casey. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe review was conducted by the Garda National Protective Services Bureau at the request of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationChild sexual abuse allegations against Casey were reported to gardaí but he was never charged. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMultiple allegations of child sex abuse were made against the Bishop, including from his niece Patricia Donovan. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe vehemently denied all allegations when he was alive. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe former Bishop of Galway died in 2017 and was buried in the crypt of Galway Cathedral. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis remains were removed from the cathedral and are now with his family. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe resigned as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh in 1992 after it was revealed he had an affair with American woman Annie Murphy, resulting in the birth of their son. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Jul2025Gardaí taking no further investigation into original Bishop Eamonn Casey file
GNPSB review of the original Bishop Casey file concluded with no further investigative actions identified. His remains were removed from Galway Cathedral crypt and are now with his family.
victim, Patricia Donovan, female, irish (judged from name)Patricia Donovansuspect, Eamonn Casey, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamonn Casey