Betrayal of Trust: The Father Brendan Smyth Affair and the Catholic Church

by Chris Moore

At the end of 1994, the Father Brendan Smyth affair brought shame on the Catholic church in Ireland and led directly to the fall of the Irish government. Television viewers grew to recognise the face of the paedophile priest who was sentenced in Belfast on seventeen counts of sexual abuse of children going back thirty years. Betrayal of Trust is the inside story of the Father Brendan Smyth affair, written by the individual man who, more than anyone else, was responsible for breaking the UTV Counterpoint journalist Chris Moore. Betrayal of Trust is part riveting detective story, part disturbing account of crimes against children, as with Chris Moore we follow the trail of the paedophile priest throughout Ireland, in Italy and in America. But most of all it is a book that gives voice to those who were betrayed by a priest and by the religious leaders who shielded him.

238 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

Reviews

[Rebecca Cecil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A horrific look at a Priest Brendan Smyth who should be someone trustworthy in the eyes of his church. But molesting both both and girls in the orphanage within the wall that should gave been a safety haven for the children. The higher ups were told and chose to ignore it. Another Pastor came forward when he found out Father Brendan Smyth was practicing in Belgium, Ireland at a church with a children's orphanage, he was told he had to be mistaken. And again nothing happen he remained at the church. More kids were molested. He had been molesting children for 40 years before one girl was born that he had now been molesting and rapping and if they had done something about it she and so many other victims would not have to live with what this monster who people knees what he was doing covered. You will not believe the sentence he got when the one girl came forward. Just note she was not allowed to give her account to what happened. So when others come forward and a letter turns up see what happens. Ireland put the Catholic Church to collapse. After he arrest 3 more pastors there were arrested for pedophilia. It was said Smyth abused at least 143 children.

[Paul Toner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking revelations of the depth the Catholic Church went to harbour a paedophile priest over decades. Having allowed Smyth to continue his wanton abuse in many parishes in many countries itself, is diabolical. Chris Wilson thankfully does not dwell on the actual abuses but the failure of so many to prevent them from occurring.

[Tim]

It's hard to believe the R/C church allowed it to go on so long just moving Father Brendan Smythe from Ireland to the USA just allowed him to carry on abusing children like an obese person locked in a sweet shop Even when he returned after he was sent packing from his American parish he just picked up where he left off the fact he was allowed to walk into R/C schools and asked to see any child he wanted in private was beyond belief No way should it have taken so long to bring his sordid abuse before a court The fact so many complaints were made about what he was doing against kids male and female were just being swept under the carpet with the church more concerned about it's own welfare then those of the victims brought so much shame on those who were R/C As well as the ministers who hoped it would all just go away