Ireland's Catholic Church has come under fire in a new government report, which says it covered up decades of sexual abuse of young people by priests.

The report details the church's handling of around 100 abuse allegations against 21 priests in the southeast diocese of Ferns in County Wexford.

The inquiry was set up in 2002, after the resignation of the Bishop of Ferns, Brendan Comiskey, who had been aware of the activities of an abusive priest but failed to act.

One of the most notorious offenders was Father Sean Fortune, who killed himself before he could face trial on charges of indecently assaulting young boys.

Ireland's Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan, said the inquiry showed a clear failure on the part of the church to protect the vulnerable.

"I want, on behalf of the government, to condemn in the strongest possible terms the repeated failure and the gross dereliction of duties of those in positions of trust in the Diocese of Ferns," he said.
According to the report, 11 of the 21 accused priests who are still alive have either been excluded from the priesthood or are no longer in active service.

The findings are likely to reignite public anger in Ireland after a string of clerical sex abuse scandals which have severely damaged the church's reputation.

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County Wexford.