An inquiry has heard that gardaí in Dublin were aware of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth's child sex abuse as far back as the early 1970s.

Documents were presented to the Historical Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland revealing that he was initially being treated at a psychiatric hospital in Dublin for what were described as "homosexual problems".

He was later diagnosed as "suffering from paedophilia", and gardaí were aware of that diagnosis.

Throughout the Smyth scandal and the continuing inquiry, it was widely believed that only the Catholic Church had knowledge of his offending and that it had covered it up.

The Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre says it's clear all of society didn't want to know about child sex abuse in the 1970's.

Ellen O'Malley Dunlop made the comment in the light of new evidence at Northern Ireland's Historical Abuse Inquiry, which revealed Gardaí were aware of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth's activities as far back as the early 1970's.

Smyth was convicted of more than 100 indecent assaults against children over a 40-year period.

Ellen O'Malley Dunlop said it's difficult for victims of childhood sexual abuse to hear about this case again - and anyone affected can call their helpline:

The inquiry heard on Monday that Smyth admitted he could have abused hundreds of children.

He was convicted of more than 100 indecent assaults against children over a 40 year period.

He died in prison in 1997 after a heart attack.

Yesterday, it emerged Smyth wrote an angry letter from prison, criticising his Church and the media over their response to his conviction.

Smyth castigated a former leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland - the then-Bishop Cathal Daly - for stating that his case had damaged the Church.

The letter also blamed the media for creating an atmosphere of "shame" over his crimes.

One of his victims spoke to Newstalk yesterday about her experiences.