Irish Cardinal Desmond Connell, the retired Archbishop of Dublin, has died aged 90. Cardinal Connell’s accomplishments during his 16 years as head of the Archdiocese of Dublin were overshadowed by the Church’s slowness in coming to terms with the clerical sexual abuse scandals. During a Holy Thursday Mass, about two weeks before his retirement was announced in 2004, Cardinal Connell asked for forgiveness from those he offended, especially those abused by priests. “I ask pardon of all whom I have offended, especially of those who suffered unspeakable abuse by priests of the diocese and experienced a lack of the care that ought to have been provided,” said the cardinal, who was 78 at the time. “I can only hope that the steps now taken will ensure that the future will see no repetition of what happened in the past.” Five years later a report by the Commission of Investigation, led by Judge Yvonne Murphy, looked at the handling of abuse claims in the archdiocese from 1975 to 2004. Cardinal Connell became archbishop in 1988. “The Dublin archdiocese’s preoccupations in dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, at least until the mid-1990s, were the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the Church and the preservation of its assets,” said the report. “All other considerations, including the welfare of children and justice for victims, were subordinated to these priorities.” The report said then Archbishop Connell was “slow to recognise the seriousness of the situation when he took over in 1988. He was over-reliant on advice from other people, including his auxiliary bishops and legal and medical experts. He was clearly personally appalled by the abuse but it took him some time to realise that it could not be dealt with by keeping it secret.” Desmond Connell was born in Dublin on March 24, 1926. Before entering Clonliffe College, Dublin’s diocesan seminary, he was educated by Jesuits at Belvedere College. After his ordination in 1951, he continued his studies, earning a doctorate in philosophy before becoming a lecturer in the department of metaphysics at University College, Dublin. By 1988, when St John Paul II named him Archbishop of Dublin, he was professor of general metaphysics and dean of the philosophy faculty. His appointment as archbishop was unexpected because of his lack of pastoral experience. As archbishop, he worked to clear diocesan debt and build new schools and parishes in response to population growth. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Cardinal Connell had a distinguished academic career. “While his time as archbishop was controversial, those who knew him recognised his desire for holiness and his gentleness and humility of character,” he said. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: “Dr Connell was a strong advocate for social justice … He dedicated great passion and commitment to the people of his diocese.” Professor Moore McDowell, who worked with then Professor Connell at University College, Dublin, told Raidió Teilifís Éireann he was “very much old school. He was reserved and kind and had fixed opinions. He was pre-Vatican II in his approach to theology and he was very shy.” Last Friday, Archbishop Charles Brown, nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin and Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh concelebrated the cardinal’s funeral Mass at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin.