Pope Benedict XVI’s pastoral letter to Ireland’s Catholics has failed to arrest the scandal engulfing the church, with pressure growing for the resignation of bishops who were in positions of authority during the paedophile priest cover-up.

Pressure for more resignations among Ireland’s Roman Catholic hierarchy continued to grow yesterday when a bishop admitted that he had failed to report a paedophile priest to the police.

Pope Benedict XVI has apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland. In a pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, he acknowledged the sense of betrayal in the Church felt by victims and their families.

The Catholic Church in Ireland faced fresh allegations of mishandling child sex abuse yesterday following claims that a bishop was party to swearing to secrecy a girl abused by a priest in an out-of-court settlement.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today launched a new regional directory of services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

The Bishop of Derry has been accused of being involved in a compensation deal to cover up alleged child sex abuse. Dr Seamus Hegarty was one of three priests named in a civil settlement after an eight-year-old girl was abused over a 10-year period from 1979.

Residential care outreach team leader Layne Walker has won Northern Ireland social work’s major individual award for outstanding achievement after showing “passion, energy and commitment” in his role.

The valuable contribution social workers make to the lives of individuals and communities in Northern Ireland has been officially recognised.

A new £9 million mental health facility which has opened in south Belfast will make a real difference to young people, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said.

A 35-year-old woman is to go on trial at Londonderry Crown Court accused of stealing more than £64,000 from the residents of a care home.