Former Irish President Mary McAleese has revealed an old bid by the Vatican to prevent Ireland accessing Catholic Church documents.
It wasn’t pursued when she expressed the view that the secrecy would place the church “flat on its back.”
She told The Irish Times that the attempt in 2003 was “one of the most devastating moments in my presidency.”
It occurred during a state visit to Italy when she had a private meeting with the then-Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
https://www.irishcentral.com/news/irishvoice/mary-mcaleese-vatican-block-documents-irish-sex-abuse
https://www.irishcentral.com/news/irishvoice/mary-mcaleese-vatican-block-documents-irish-sex-abuse