Patrick Ryan IRA confession: Vatican and church under fire for response to ex-priest’s role in IRA

BBC Spotlight this week broadcast an interview with Mr Ryan during which he confessed to working for the IRA while a parish priest in Ireland – and being involved in a string of high-profile bomb attacks in England.

He reportedly left the in 1973 to work full time for the IRA.

The News Letter this week put a series of questions about his past to the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the Irish Bishops’ Conference and the religious congregation he was a member of, the Pallottines.

While all of them responded, Belfast priest Fr Patrick McCafferty said they should have taken the opportunity to unequivocally condemn Ryan’s crimes.

The News Letter asked if there was now any church investigation into his activities while a priest, if he was still receiving church support, if the church would cooperate with police investigations into him, and for details of any disciplinary action taken against him.

None of the church offices suggested there is any investigation into his IRA activities while he was a parish priest.

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo responded: “The issues you raise fall completely outside the remit of this Apostolic Nunciature. You may have to contact the priest himself or his bishop.

“As you know, priests are under the direct responsibility of their respective bishops.”

However, the Irish Bishops’ Conference was not able to offer any further comment. Instead, a spokesman noted Ryan was a member of the Pallottines order and directed the News Letter to it for answers.

“As each religious congregation is self-governing, it is necessary to contact a congregation directly for information concerning its operation,” he added.

The provincial rector of Mr Ryan’s former order said he is currently out of the country and has no records on the ex-priest.

“The information on him and his life and activities that I have is what is reported in the media,” said Jeremiah Murphy.

He said Mr Ryan left the order 40 years ago, has not maintained contact and does not receive any support from the order, which “always cooperates” with Church and state in investigations. Ryan was a missionary in Africa and a parish priest in Tipperary in the late 1960s while working for the IRA.

But former IRA bomber and committed Catholic Shane Paul O’Doherty posed eight questions he says his church should answer regarding Mr Ryan.

Ryan had been a missionary in Africa and later a parish priest in Ireland at the end of the 1960s.

The ex-priest said he financially contributed to the IRA, in part using money from mission boxes. Later the IRA asked him to come and work full time for it, travelling the world and raising support. He reportedly fell out with the church and left the Pallottine order in 1973.

Blogger Mr O’Doherty from Londonderry, who now opposes violence, said the church should answer questions about Ryan’s time as a priest: