DUBLIN City Council is to upgrade signage in a popular Southside park that refers to Archbishop Dermot Ryan, who was shamed in the ground breaking Murphy Report.
The park in Merrion Square was called
‘Archbishop Ryan Park’ after Dermot Ryan, the Catholic archbishop, who had transferred ownership of the park to the city in the 1970s.
Dermot Ryan served as the Archbishop of Dublin from 1972 until his death from a heart attack in Rome in 1984.
In 2009, Ryan was heavily criticised in the Murphy Report for his role in the cover up of child sexual abuse.
Subsequently, in January 2010, Dublin City Council sought public views on renaming the park and in September of that year the council voted to rename the park
‘Merrion Square Park’.
However, an eagle-eyed dad who recently spotted the reference to Archbishop Ryan on a sign at the children’s playground in the park tweeted his displeasure over the discovery.
‘Remember they changed name of Archbishop Ryan park after abuse cover up allegations
?¦.Well they forgot the playground’, he wrote, attaching a picture of the offending sign.
After prompting Dublin City Council for a response as to
‘why is playground still called after someone accused of child abuse cover ups’, saying he was looking forward
‘to seeing his name erased from history’, Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) tweeted that
‘works on new playground will begin shortly & as part of the works signage will be upgraded’.
The twitter user replied,
‘good to hear thanks, surprised it took over 4 years though. Murphy Report V clear on his role in child abuse cover ups.’
Speaking to Southside People the twitter user said it was entirely inappropriate that a children’s play ground should still be named after a man who covered up child sexual abuse.
“It’s just wrong and it should be removed,
? he said.
“I should have thought that it would be relatively easy to remove all references to him from the park.
?
In a statement to Southside People Dublin City Council confirmed that Merrion Square Park would be upgraded
“this spring
?.
“The sign is scheduled to be replaced as part of this upgrading,
? a council spokesperson said.
Under the
‘What’s New’ section of Dublin City Council’s website there is a reference to the
‘Upgrading of Merrion Square Park Playground’.
“As part of Park Services works programme it is proposÂed to upgrade the playground in Merrion Square Park,
? the document reads.
“The upgrading has now been procured and it is proposed to undertake the upgrading commencing late February/ early March 2014 with an anticipated six to eight week build period.
“The Park Services welcome the co-operation of the public during the construction phase of the works and apologise for any inconvenience caused during this stage.
?