There are reports in today's UK Guardian (for example) of 10-year old boys being forced to sign papers vowing them to silence - by the church - with the priest in question then going on to abuse boys for a further 18 years.

These relate to the controversy over the presence of now archbishop Seán Brady at the signing of these vows of silence in 1975. Two victims of serial abuser Brendan Smith were asked for a vow of silence, at least one of them was only ten years old at the time. Smith continued his spate of horrendous abuse.

Mind you today's Irish Times reports of a woman sworn to secrecy about abuse in an out of court settlement in 2000, which involved the Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty.