AFT, you are correct in your view. The Irish Hierarchy, were pitifully, deferential to the Vatican. They did not act without it's approval. When the abuse scandal broke; they were like rabbits caught in the headlights; they just froze. It also emerged in the Judicial Reviews that each member remained silent about complaints of abuse in their diocese. They did not share or seek advice about how to handle complaints; motivated by the fact that they did not want to be seen as the one who brought scandal on the church. That was their primary goal. A contributing factor also was the selection of bishops. Under JPII & BVI; Papal Nuncios were all of a related template. Unfortunately just before BVI resigned, he promoted his long serving personal assistant (10 yrs) at the CDF, Monsignor Charles Brown (U.S.) as Nuncio and personally consecrated him as Archbishop. A chip off the old block, he continued to use the same template to select nominations for Irish bishops.  All "yes" men of tradition.