The Historical Abuse Inquiry has heard new and disturbing evidence this week regarding the prolific sex abuser Fr Brendan Smyth, including the revelation that gardai knew about his evil activities as far back as the early 1970s.
Confidential documents released to the inquiry showed that Smyth was diagnosed as a paedophile in 1974 and this `recurring problem' had brought him to the attention of the police.
Clearly, this raises questions for the authorities in the Republic which need to be addressed.
However, it was the testimony yesterday of Cardinal Sean Brady which was of particular significance.
While it has been known for some time that the Catholic Church covered up the horrendous crimes of deviant priests, here we had a senior figure, only recently the Primate of All Ireland, admitting there was a ``shroud of secrecy'' designed to prevent ``the good name of the Church'' from being destroyed.
Not only was the scandal of sex abuse kept a secret - ``very, very secret'' in the words of Dr Brady - but everyone involved was also bound by this code of silence.
Measures are now in place to make sure children are properly safeguarded, but the Cardinal provided an insight into the thinking within the Church in 1975 when confronted with Brendan Smyth's behaviour.
It did not occur to him to inform the civil authorities about abuse allegations, saying there was a belief that handling the matter `in-house' was more effective.
As we now know, this attitude was not only wrong, it was dangerous and enormously damaging, resulting in many children suffering abuse and long lasting trauma.
We also know that attempts to keep this scandal secret in order to protect the reputation of the Catholic Church had the very opposite effect.
For a Church to put its good name before the protection of children is unforgivable.
It was important for Cardinal Brady to attend this inquiry, to apologise and to admit the terrible failures of the past which had the most profound consequences.
