Viewers of the debut episode of the new season of RTE's Keys To My Life have reacted with support for Fr Brian D'Arcy on social media.
The famous Irish priest and broadcaster opened up to presenter Brendan Courtney about the abuse he suffered while studying for the priesthood.
In the 30-minute episode, Father Brian tells Brendan that he hasn’t allowed his life to be ruined by the men who harmed him in his past, reports RSVP Live.
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“Everybody that abused me is dead, so why should I let them continue to abuse me from the grave?” he said, in a candid interview with Brendan.
“It’s my life now. I wasn’t responsible when they abused me. I am responsible for holding on to it, if I do.”
Father Brian says the abuse he faced galvanised his decision to speak out against clerical abuse.
“I think, perhaps, maybe it was the best gift that I brought to the church because I could speak fearlessly about how bad abuse was and nobody could contradict me, no matter what kind of pointy hat they wear," he said.
He explained that it was “because of good people” that he had come through his experiences “reasonably well."
“Most days I’m alright," he said.
Despite the abuse he has experienced, he reminisced fondly on his life as a journalist and lover of God and pop culture.
Viewers of the show shared words of support online for the priest as the show aired:
