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60-513: Brendan Smyth O.Praem (8 June 1927 – 22 August 1997) was a Catholic priest and convicted sex offender from Belfast , Northern Ireland , who became notorious as a child molester , using his position in the Catholic Church to obtain access to his victims. During a period of over 40 years, Smyth sexually abused and indecently assaulted at least 143 children in parishes in Belfast , Dublin and

120-619: A safe house in England. Hegarty's mother Rose appeared on the programme to tell of telephone calls to McGuinness and of Hegarty's subsequent murder. McGuinness denied her account and denounced the programme saying "I have never been in the IRA. I don't have any sway over the IRA". In 2005, Michael McDowell , the Irish Tánaiste , stated McGuinness, along with Gerry Adams and Martin Ferris , were members of

180-608: A Church inquiry against Smyth. Survivors groups saw this as evidence of collusion, but Brady said he "did not have the authority" to turn Smyth in. On 17 March 2010, the Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness , called for Brady to resign. In 2013, some of Smyth's alleged Rhode Island victims between 1965 and 1968, both male and female, called for the Diocese of Providence to investigate Smyth. As of 2019, Smyth

240-563: A condition that attacks the vital organs , and retired shortly before his death on 21 March 2017, aged 66. McGuinness acknowledged that he was a former IRA member, but stated that he left the IRA in 1974. He originally joined the Official IRA , unaware of the split at the December 1969 Army Convention, switching to the Provisional IRA soon after. By the start of 1972, at the age of 21, he

300-813: A diocese where some of the abuse took place, and later as Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh , is recorded as having been privately furious at the Norbertine "incompetence". Smyth's activities were investigated by the Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry , finding that: "..despite knowing his history of abusing children, the Norbertine religious order moved Smyth to different dioceses where he abused more children.." In 2010, Daly's successor as Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal Seán Brady , faced "huge pressure to resign" after he admitted that in 1975 he witnessed two teenage boys sign oaths of silence after testifying in

360-524: A new course." On 16 September 2011 McGuinness was announced as the Sinn Féin candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election. In the election held on 27 October 2011, McGuinness received 243,030 first preference votes, placing third behind Michael D. Higgins (elected president) and Seán Gallagher . McGuinness had earned endorsements from Colm Meaney, Roma Downey, and Fionnula Flanagan among others; and had performed well considering Sinn Féin's position in

420-752: A scandal came to light surrounding the Renewable Heat Incentive, an energy incentive championed by Arlene Foster when she was Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Incentives in 2012. The incentive would cost the Northern Ireland Executive £480m over 20 years, and was marred by allegations of fraud, which were not acknowledged or acted upon by Foster or the DUP (McGuinness' and Sinn Féin's partner in government). McGuinness and others in Sinn Féin called for Foster to step aside as First Minister to allow for independent inquiries, but she refused. She made

480-515: A statement before the assembly on 19 December without McGuinness' approval (as required under the power-sharing agreement), resulting in Sinn Féin and the opposition parties all walking out of the assembly. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams indicated on 8 January 2017 that McGuinness could resign, thus vacating both his and Foster's offices, if Foster did not agree to temporarily step aside to allow an independent inquiry. McGuinness resigned

540-641: A strict form of canonical life in various communities of canons in Germany ; in 1120 he was working in the now-extinct Ancient Diocese of Laon , in Picardy , northeastern France . There, in a rural place called Prémontré , he and thirteen companions established a monastery to be the cradle of a new order. As they were canons regular, they followed the Rule of St. Augustine , but with supplementary statutes that made their life one of great austerity. Common prayer and celebration of

600-691: A variety of scales (Averbode Abbey, Berne Abbey, United States , Australia ). In order to support themselves, the different communities have down the centuries, and in modern times, operated small-scale manual activities (SME) such as printing ( Averbode Abbey , Tongerlo Abbey , Berne Abbey ), farming ( Kinshasa , Ireland , Postel Abbey ), forestry ( Schlägl Abbey , Geras Abbey , Slovakia ), and cheese-making (Postel Abbey). They have also entered agreements with breweries (Tongerlo Abbey, Postel Abbey, Park Abbey, Leffe , Grimbergen ) and undertaken artistic bookbinding (in Oosterhout ). Other activities have included

660-477: Is St. Norbert College, the only Norbertine higher education institution in the world. The Order has several abbeys of women who, though technically called canonesses, follow the life of an enclosed religious order and are therefore more commonly termed Norbertine nuns . Like the Norbertine communities for men, those for women are autonomous. Unusually, within the religious communities of the Catholic Church ,

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720-637: Is among those listed by the Diocese of Providence as being "credibly accused" of committing sex abuse. Module 6 of the 2014-2016 Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry is dedicated to Smyth's crimes in Northern Ireland. A two-part dramatisation of the Smyth case, Brendan Smyth: Betrayal of Trust , was broadcast by the BBC on 13 March 2011 with Ian Beattie in the title role and Richard Dormer as Chris Moore. Premonstratensians Norbert

780-428: Is common for a foundation of canonesses to have links not only with other canonesses, but also with a community of canons. The Premonstratensians were among the religious orders with their own rite who kept this rite after Pope Pius V suppressed such rites with a continuous tradition of less than two hundred years. The Premonstratensian Rite was especially characterized by a ritual solemnity. The Premonstratensian Rite

840-565: Is the only institution of higher education sponsored by the Order. Elsewhere they also sponsor/operate schools or serve in pastoral care capacities at parish schools. Schools founded or sponsored by the order include: Northern Ireland 's Historical Abuse Inquiry investigated reports that Brendan Smyth , a member of the Norbertine Order, was allowed to continue paedophilia for more than four decades, even after Smyth himself had admitted in 1994,

900-574: The 1981 hunger strikes , and again in the early 1990s. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont in 1982, representing Londonderry . He was the second candidate elected after Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader John Hume . As with all elected members of Sinn Féin and the SDLP, he did not take up his seat. On 9 December 1982, McGuinness, Gerry Adams and Danny Morrison were banned from entering Great Britain under

960-557: The Donegal Gaeltacht to learn the Irish language . Sinn Féin refused to nominate a successor to McGuinness before 16 January, resulting in the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , James Brokenshire , calling for new elections scheduled for 2 March. McGuinness subsequently announced that he would not run for re-election, due to ill health. McGuinness's mother was from Donegal in

1020-666: The Northern Ireland Executive under First Minister David Trimble from 1999 to 2002. Following the St Andrews Agreement and the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election , he became deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on 8 May 2007, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Ian Paisley becoming First Minister. In 2008 and 2016, he was reappointed as deputy First Minister to serve alongside Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster , respectively. He

1080-527: The Northern Ireland peace process negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement . At the time of his death, former US President Bill Clinton noted that McGuinness was the one who personally oversaw the agreement's arms decommissioning phase . Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also acknowledged the leading role which McGuinness had in ensuring the agreement would be enforced. He

1140-509: The Prevention of Terrorism Act by the Home Secretary , William Whitelaw. In August 1993, he was the subject of a two-part special by The Cook Report , a Central TV investigative documentary series presented by Roger Cook . It accused him of continuing involvement in IRA activity, of attending an interrogation and of encouraging Frank Hegarty, a British informer, to return to Derry from

1200-450: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , Willie Whitelaw , in 1972. In 1973, he was convicted by the Republic of Ireland 's Special Criminal Court , after being arrested near a car containing 250 pounds (110 kg) of explosives and nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition. He refused to recognise the court, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. In court, he declared his membership of

1260-474: The St. Patrick's Day parade . Breed apologised two days later following controversy. In December 2016, McGuinness was advised against making a planned visit to China on medical grounds, initially announcing that this was due to "unforeseen personal circumstances." After subsequent tests, he was told that he was suffering from "a very serious illness." McGuinness and Sinn Féin declined to give details of his illness to

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1320-643: The Wends and the bringing of Christianity to the territories around the Elbe and the Oder . In time, mitigations and relaxations emerged, and these gave rise to reforms and semi-independent congregations within the Order. The Norbertines arrived in England about 1143, first at Newhouse in Lincoln, England ; before the dissolution under Henry VIII there were 35 houses. Soon after their arrival in England, they founded Dryburgh Abbey in

1380-589: The Westminster Parliament . Working alongside US Special Envoy George Mitchell , McGuinness was also one of the main architects of the Good Friday Agreement which formally cemented the Northern Ireland peace process and established the Northern Ireland Assembly . In 1998, McGuinness was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Mid Ulster . He served as Minister of Education in

1440-758: The "Premonstratensians," were aware of Smyth's crimes as early as the late 1970s, yet they did not report him to either the Garda Síochána or the Royal Ulster Constabulary . Smyth was moved from parish to parish and between dioceses and countries whenever allegations were made. In some cases, the order did not inform the diocesan bishop that Smyth had a history of sexual abuse and should be kept away from children. He abused children in parishes in Rhode Island and North Dakota and at one time worked in Boston, and

1500-518: The Borders area of Scotland , which was followed by other communities at Whithorn Priory , Dercongal Abbey and Tongland Abbey all in the Borders area, as well as Fearn Abbey in the northern part of the nation. Like most orders they were almost completely devastated by the successive onslaughts of the Reformation, French Revolution, and Napoleon, but then experienced a revival in the 19th century. By

1560-462: The Eucharist was to be the sustaining dynamic of the community. In 1126, when the order received papal approbation by Pope Honorius II , there were nine houses; others were established in quick succession throughout western Europe, so that at the middle of the fourteenth century there were some 1,300 monasteries for men and 400 for women. The Norbertines played a predominant part in the conversion of

1620-626: The MP for Mid-Ulster stating "I have served formal notice of my resignation from the position of MP for Mid-Ulster with immediate effect. This is in line with my party's commitment to end double jobbing ." To do this, he was made Steward of the Manor of Northstead on 2 January 2013 by Chancellor George Osborne , making him an employee of the Crown and thus ineligible for membership of the House of Commons. In November 2016,

1680-521: The Norbertine Order has always seen the spiritual life of the canonesses as being on an equal footing with that of its priests and lay brothers . In the Middle Ages , the Premonstratensians even had a few double monasteries , where men and women lived in cloisters located next to each other as part of the same abbey, the communities demonstrating their unity by sharing the church building. Today, it

1740-525: The Premonstratensian Rite was the celebration of a daily votive Mass in honor of the Virgin Mary in each of its abbeys and priories. Since Norbertine abbeys (and most priories) are autonomous, practices and apostolates are different, depending on the needs of the local Church. Some houses are contemplative in character whilst others are highly active in pastoral ministry. However, each is guided by

1800-528: The Provisional IRA without equivocation: "We have fought against the killing of our people... I am a member of Óglaigh na hÉireann and very, very proud of it". After his release, and another conviction in the Republic of Ireland for IRA membership in 1974, he became increasingly prominent in Sinn Féin, the political wing of the republican movement . He was in indirect contact with British intelligence during

1860-400: The Republic at that time. McGuinness was the only candidate ineligible to vote in the election as, although an Irish citizen , he was not ordinarily a resident in the Republic of Ireland . Following the election, McGuinness formally returned to the role of deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on 31 October. On 30 December 2012 McGuinness announced that he had formally resigned as

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1920-792: The Rule of Saint Augustine and the Constitutions established by the General Chapter , which is held every six years. The general Chapter includes representatives from both male and female communities. The head of the Order, termed Abbot General, resides in Rome , and he is assisted in his duties by the Definitors (High Council) as well as commissions established for various aspects of the Order's life such as liturgy and inter-abbey communications. As of 2012, there were Premonstratensian abbeys or priories throughout

1980-610: The United States George W. Bush in the White House with the Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley, McGuinness said to the press, "Up until the 26 March this year, Ian Paisley and I never had a conversation about anything—not even about the weather—and now we have worked very closely together over the last seven months and there's been no angry words between us.... This shows we are set for

2040-512: The United States of America to minister to Belgian immigrants in northern Wisconsin. De Pere, Wisconsin became the site of the first Norbertine Abbey in the new world. By their nature as canons regular the Premonstratensians have always engaged in pastoral work of various kinds, including what would now be called retreat centres (nearly everywhere), and care for pilgrims (as at Conques ) and, like many religious houses, have often run schools on

2100-543: The United States. His actions were frequently hidden from police and the public by Roman Catholic officials. Controversy surrounding his case contributed to the downfall of the government of Republic of Ireland in December 1994. Born John Gerard Smyth, in Belfast, Northern Ireland , Smyth, upon joining the Norbertine Roman Catholic religious order in 1945, changed his name to Brendan. The Norbertines, also known as

2160-539: The age of eight. McGuinness also had an interest in cricket – sometimes extending his support to the England cricket team , as well as that of Ireland . In March 2019, McGuinness was posthumously awarded a certificate of honour by mayor of San Francisco London Breed for his "courageous service in the military." The nomination had been made by the United Irish Societies who had appointed him honorary marshal in

2220-464: The authors of the book were arrested under the Official Secrets Act . The conversations showed an easy and friendly relationship between McGuinness and Powell. He joked with Powell about unionist MPs while Mowlam referred to him as "babe" and discussed her difficulties with Blair. In another transcript, he praised Bill Clinton to Gerry Adams. In the weeks following the St Andrews Agreement ,

2280-505: The beginning of the nineteenth century the order had become almost extinct, only eight houses surviving, all in the Habsburg monarchy . However, there was something of a resurgence, and at the start of the twentieth century there were 20 monasteries and 1000 priests. As of 2005 , the number of monasteries had increased to nearly 100 and spread to every continent. In 1893, Father Bernard Pennings and two other Norbertines from Berne Abbey arrived in

2340-506: The following day; in his statements to the press, he said "Today is the right time to call a halt to the DUP's arrogance", and said that Foster had a "clear conflict of interest" in the affair. Another reason cited for his resignation was the decision by DUP Minister for Communities Paul Givan to remove £50,000 in funding from the Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary scheme, a yearly programme that allowed 100 school-age children to travel to

2400-742: The four biggest parties—the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP—indicated their choice of ministries in the Executive and nominated members to fill them. The Assembly convened on 8 May 2007 and Paisley and McGuinness were nominated as First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively. On 12 May Sinn Féin agreed to take up three places on the Northern Ireland Policing Board , and nominated three MLAs to take them. On 8 December 2007, while visiting President of

2460-591: The head of the Norbertines and the Archbishop of Armagh of mishandling the case, and the Norbertines of negligence and a failure to tell others of Smyth's crimes, enabling Smyth to sexually abuse large numbers of children for 40 years. Smyth died at 70 in prison of a heart attack in 1997 after collapsing in the exercise yard, one month into a 12-year prison sentence. The Norbertines held his funeral before dawn and covered his grave with concrete to deter vandalism . Smyth

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2520-528: The leader of the Fianna , the youth wing of the IRA at the time of Bloody Sunday. He said that McGuinness and an anonymous IRA member gave him bomb parts that morning. He said that his organisation intended to attack city centre premises in Derry on the same day. In response, McGuinness said the statements were "fantasy", while Gearóid Ó hEára (formerly Gerry O'Hara), a Derry Sinn Féin councillor, stated that he and not Ward

2580-563: The media. In January 2017, The Irish Times disclosed that McGuinness was suffering from amyloidosis , a rare incurable disease that affects organs. McGuinness complained that the Times had breached his privacy and that the paper had inaccurately reported the condition as genetic, thereby causing distress to his family. On 6 March 2017, McGuinness was hospitalised at Derry's Altnagelvin Area Hospital due to ill health. He died on 21 March, at

2640-513: The northwest of Ireland. She moved to Derry to work in a shirt factory. It was in Derry that she met McGuinness's father. One of McGuinness's middle names, Pacelli, is after Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli). McGuinness attended St. Eugene's Primary School and later the Christian Brothers technical college, leaving school at the age of 15. McGuinness married Bernadette Canning in 1974; they had four children, two girls and two boys. He

2700-583: The run, staying mostly at Kilnacrott Abbey. This led to the collapse of the Fianna Fáil–Labour Party coalition government in December 1994 when the poor handling of an extradition request from the RUC by the Irish Attorney General 's office led to a further delay of Smyth's trial. An award-winning UTV Counterpoint programme on the scandal by journalist Chris Moore, followed by a book, accused

2760-568: The running of an astronomical observatory (Mira, Grimbergen). In 2015 there were some 1000 male and 200 female members of the Order. The Feast of All Norbertine Saints and Blesseds is celebrated internally on November 13. The Norbertines have also had a major presence in the area of Green Bay, Wisconsin , owning WBAY television and radio stations until the mid-1970s. The Nobertines ran two local boys high schools until 1990 and still run four local schools in De Pere and Green Bay. Among these schools

2820-591: The same year that he was jailed for his crimes, that "Over the years of religious life it could be that I have sexually abused between 50 and 100 children. That number could even be doubled or perhaps even more." Reviewers of the case agree that there was a deliberate plot to conceal Smyth's behaviour, incompetence by his superiors at Kilnacrott Abbey. Martin McGuinness James Martin Pacelli McGuinness ( Irish : Séamus Máirtín Pacelli Mag Aonghusa ; 23 May 1950 – 21 March 2017)

2880-604: The seven-man IRA Army Council . McGuinness denied this, saying he was no longer an IRA member. Experienced Troubles journalist Peter Taylor presented further apparent evidence of McGuinness's role in the IRA in his documentary Age of Terror , shown in April 2008. In his documentary, Taylor alleges that McGuinness was the head of the IRA's Northern Command and had advance knowledge of the IRA's 1987 Remembrance Day bombing , which left 12 people dead. He became Sinn Féin's chief negotiator in

2940-1205: The world: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the USA. There are seven circaries (Premonstratensian term for an ecclesiastical province ): Anglica Circary Bohemica Circary Brabantica Circary Gallica Circary Germanica Circary Hungarica Circary Portuguesa Circary Norbertine Blesseds include Beatrice of Engelport (+1275, f. Mar. 12/13) Bronislava of Poland (or of Zwierzniec) (+1259, f. Aug. 30), Gerlach of Valkenburg (+1172, Jan. 5), Gertrude of Aldenberg (Altenburg), Abbess (+1297, f. Aug. 13), Hugh of Fosse (+1164, f. Feb. 10), Hroznata of Teplá (+1217, f. Jul. 14), Jakob Kern of Geras (+1924, f. Oct. 20), Oda of Bonne Rivreuille (+1158, f. Apr. 20), Peter-Adrian Toulorge of Blanchelande , Martyr (+1793, f. Oct. 13), and Ricvera of Clastres (+1136, f. Oct. 29). Norbertines celebrate "all Norbertine Saints and Blesseds" on Nov. 13. St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin , United States,

3000-502: Was Sinn Féin's candidate for President of Ireland in the 2011 Irish presidential election . In the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election , McGuinness was elected as the MLA for Foyle . On 9 January 2017, McGuinness resigned as deputy First Minister in protest over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal . He announced on 19 January that he would not be standing for re-election in the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election due to ill health. He reportedly suffered from amyloidosis ,

3060-405: Was a fan of the Derry Gaelic football and hurling teams and played both sports when he was younger. He grew up just 50 metres from Celtic Park , the home of Derry's Gaelic Athletic Association . His older brother Tom played Gaelic football for Derry. He supported Derry City F.C. where his younger brother Paul played for the Candystripes. McGuinness supported Manchester United from

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3120-450: Was a friend of Bernard of Clairvaux and was largely influenced by the Cistercian ideals as to both the manner of life and the government of his order. As the Premonstratensians are not monks but canons regular, their work often involves preaching and the exercising of pastoral ministry; they frequently serve in parishes close to their abbeys or priories. The order was founded in 1120. Saint Norbert had made various efforts to introduce

3180-442: Was also characterized by an emphasis on the Paschal mystery unique among the Latin rites. This was especially seen in the solemnity with which the daily conventional High Mass and office was celebrated during the Easter octave, especially vespers which concluded with a procession to the baptismal font, a practice paralleled among the Latin rites only in similar processions still found in the Ambrosian Rite . Another unique practice of

3240-422: Was an Irish republican politician and statesman for Sinn Féin and a leader within the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) during The Troubles . He was the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from May 2007 to January 2017. McGuinness served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Ulster from 1997 until his resignation in 2013. Like all Sinn Féin MPs, McGuinness followed abstentionism in

3300-479: Was buried in Kilnacrott Abbey, which was later put up for sale with 44 acres (18 ha) of land, including the grave. On 27 October 2005 the title "Reverend" was removed from his gravestone following a campaign by one of Smyth's victims. Reviewers of the case differ as to whether there was a deliberate plot to conceal Smyth's behaviour, incompetence by his superiors at Kilnacrott Abbey, or some combination of factors. Cahal Daly , both as Bishop of Down and Connor ,

3360-484: Was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996 representing Foyle . Having contested Foyle unsuccessfully at the 1983, 1987 and 1992 Westminster elections, he became MP for Mid Ulster in 1997 and after the agreement was concluded, was returned as a member of the Assembly for the same constituency . He was nominated by his party for a ministerial position in the power-sharing executive , where he became Minister of Education. One of his acts as Minister of Education

3420-512: Was his decision to scrap the 11-plus exam , which he had failed as a child. He was re-elected to the Westminster Parliament in 2001, 2005 and 2010. In May 2003, transcripts of telephone calls between McGuinness and British officials including Mo Mowlam , the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Jonathan Powell , Tony Blair 's Chief of Staff, were published in a biography of McGuinness entitled From Guns to Government by Kathryn Johnston and Liam Clarke. The tapes had been made by MI5 and

3480-405: Was second-in-command of the IRA in Derry , a position he held at the time of Bloody Sunday on 30 January 1972, when thirteen civilians were shot and killed in the city by British soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment during a civil rights march, with a fourteenth victim dying four months later. During the Saville Inquiry into the events of that day, Paddy Ward stated he had been

3540-417: Was suspected of similar actions while on pastoral work in Wales and Italy. Norbertine Father Bruno Mulvihill made several attempts to alert church authorities about the abuse committed by Smyth. Smyth's first conviction followed the reporting to police of his abuse of four siblings in Belfast 's Falls Road . After his arrest in 1991, he fled to the Republic of Ireland , where he spent the next three years on

3600-463: Was the Fianna leader at the time. The inquiry concluded that, although McGuinness was "engaged in paramilitary activity" at the time of Bloody Sunday and had probably been armed with a Thompson submachine gun , there was insufficient evidence to make any finding other than they were "sure that he did not engage in any activity that provided any of the soldiers with any justification for opening fire". McGuinness negotiated alongside Gerry Adams with

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