Reports highlight extent of child abuse in diocese

Reports highlight extent of child abuse in diocese

12 July 2011

FORTY priests in the Down and Connor diocese have been subject to allegations of child abuse over the past 50 years.

Twenty of the priests are still alive, and eight of those are currently under investigation.

Two have been convicted of abuse, four have retired and six remain in ministry following the satisfactory conclusion of civil and canonical investigations,

The statistics were revealed in a review commissioned by the diocese, covering the period 1961 to 2011, and conducted by independent social work experts Marion Reynolds and Dr. John Devanney, who were appointed by the diocese.

There is no further breakdown available of allegations made by Parish.

The review is separate to the ongoing audits of dioceses across Ireland being carried out by the Church’s National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSC).

On Wednesday, NBSC released its findings for six dioceses, including Dromore, which incorporates the Magheradroll Parish area. In Dromore 35 allegations were made against 10 priests and there were no convictions for abuse.

Down and Connor, which reaches from Kilkeel in County Down to Portstewart in County Antrim, is one of the largest diocese in Ireland and has yet to be audited by NBSC.

Down and Connor’s independent review was ordered by Bishop Noel Treanor during the summer and identified “significant improvements over time and especially in the last two years in the handling of allegations, complaints and suspicions against clergy.”

It also found that “the level of contact with statutory authorities has improved greatly as has the legislative compliance, reporting and information sharing.”

The audit recommended the board widen the scope of its work to “included vulnerable adults” and that “monitoring and management of priests against whom allegations have been made should be enhanced.”

It also recommended reviewing procedures to “ensure that in all cases reporting is made to the Safeguarding Office without delay.”

A diocesan spokesman said Down and Connor had yet to be allocated a time slot for its audit by the NBSC.

He said Bishop Treanor takes child safeguarding “very seriously” and that the diocese was being proactive in carrying out a review of abuse cases ahead of a formal audit.