By Claire O’Sullivan and Sean O’Riordan
Irish Examiner
January 9, 2009
http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=81661-qqqx=1.asp
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` A PRIEST alleged to be a serial sex abuser has not been properly supervised by the Diocese of Cloyne and since being removed from his ministry, and has lived less than half a mile from a school and creche.
The claim has been made by the father of one of the priest’s alleged victims, who says the cleric is often seen out and about on his own, and was recently spotted in a shop chatting to a very young woman.
The victim’s father said the family were promised the priest would be supervised, but he believed these assurances were “nonsense”.
The Diocese of Cloyne promised to investigate the allegations as it also emerged the state’s watchdog for children is to investigate the Health Service Executive and Department of Health for allowing Church dioceses to avoid fully completing an audit of child protection practices.
Victim groups have expressed shock at how the audit, published this week, was considered acceptable despite the country’s bishops not filling in a section which asked questions about actual alleged abuse cases.
More than a year ago, the HSE informed the Minister for Children that the Church was refusing to provide all necessary information. Despite this, a decision was made to proceed without the relevant section. It is this decision that is under the spotlight.
The investigation by the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, will try to establish if there was “any maladministration in relation to the handling of the Child Protection Audit” by either the HSE or the department. Her office is unable to investigate any action by the Catholic Church as it is outside her remit.
Ms Logan said last night that in her role as ombudsman she will investigate any body seen to be not co-operating with best practice in child protection.
“We are investigating the acceptance by the bodies of this omission by the Church. The statutory power for child protection in the state lies with the HSE and the Department of Health and Children. If the Church fails to provide them with such information and this is accepted, what does this mean for children?
“The publication of the report could suggest that the non-providing of such information is acceptable. Does that mean that another body such as a school or a public body could do this?”
The ombudsman is also investigating the implementation of the Children First safety guidelines.
Chief executive of Barnardos, Fergus Finlay, said the ombudsman’s investigation is “a logical follow-on” from the audit of child protection guidelines within the HSE.
The Minister for Children, Barry Andrews, also welcomed the decision to carry out the investigation.
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