After resisting calls for his resignation due to his involvement in one of the most notorious pedophile clergymen in Ireland, Irish Cardinal Sean Brady submits his resignation during the celebration of his 75th birthday on Monday.

Cardinal Brady emotionally pleaded for forgiveness during a mass in Northern Ireland's Armagh.

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"I too need to say sorry and to ask forgiveness and I do so again today," he tearfully told the faithful as he announced his decision to step down from his position as the Catholic Church leader in Ireland.

Brady, who was appointed in 1996, handed his resignation to the Pope last month. It was subsequently accepted on Monday, which was coincidentally his 75th birthday.

During his reign as the Irish Catholic leader, a series of damning revelations hit the church hard. Reports reveal that Brady played a key role in the cover up of Father Brendan Smyth's reign of terror.

Brady was allegedly the note-taker during church meetings with two of Smyth's victims who had been sworn to secrecy about the abuse involving the Irish priest.

After that, Smyth went on to abuse more children across Ireland and the United States until his crime was finally discovered during the 1990s.

In spite of being a member of the Catholic Church's investigating team in 1975, he never confessed to his role in the cover up until it was exposed in 2009 by Jim Cusack, a Dublin journalist.

In 2012, a television documentary revealed Brady's inaction when given the names of five more of Smyth's victims.

He publicly apologized to the victims then. However, Brady did not step down or actually admit his involvement in the first two abuses.

On Monday, Brady still did not mention his involvement in his nine-paragraph long statement announcing his retirement.

Brendan Boland, one of Smyth's victims who had been part of the secret deal, criticized Brady's statement about his retirement. He cited that the Irish Catholic leader was retiring and not resigning "as if he has done nothing wrong."

TagsIrish Cardinal, resign, retire, Scandal, Catholic Church, pedophile, priest