Ireland orders new probe into Catholic sex abuse

DUBLIN, Ireland — The Irish government has ordered a new investigation into how a Roman Catholic bishop mishandled complaints against sexually abusive priests in his diocese.

The decision by Children's Minister Barry Andrews is raising pressure on Bishop John Magee to resign. Magee has already apologized after a church-appointed investigator found that he failed to tell police promptly or fully about allegations against two priests since 1995.

Andrews says the bishop has offered misleading accounts to investigators. He says a government commission currently probing the Catholic Church's handling of abuse cases in Dublin will extend its work to Magee's diocese of Cloyne in southwest Ireland.

Andrews made the announcement at a Dublin news conference Wednesday.