BishopAccountability.org
	Derry Diocese Publishes Child Safety Paper Inishowen News November 25, 2010 http://www.inishowennews.com/06Church0820.htm THE Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty has stressed that all allegations of child sexual abuse in his cross-border diocese are reported to the PSNI and Gardai. Dr Hegarty was speaking at the launch of the 'Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures Document' attended by representatives from the Derry diocese's 50 parishes, in An Grianan Hotel, Burt. "I wish to state clearly tonight that all allegations of child abuse that are received by the diocese are reported to the civil authorities in accordance with the national guidelines of the Catholic Church in Ireland," said Bishop Hegarty. "Words on a page will not protect children but proper implementation of best practice will help to minimize risk and prevent the serious errors of the past from recurring." The new Derry diocesan document sets out a number of policies and procedures in relation to child abuse including the prompt reporting of abuse to the civil authorities; a strong code of conduct for all adult personnel, children and young people to prevent children from harm and a commitment to ongoing training and education for all church personnel to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform their roles. Bishop Hegarty said he was grateful to all lay parishioners and clergy for their "ongoing commitment to protecting children and young people in the Church". The Derry Diocesan Child Safeguarding Committee and men and women from the diocese with expertise in working with children and young people, helped prepare the new guidelines. Also present at An Grianan Hotel on Tuesday night was National Board for Safeguarding Children chief executive, Ian Elliot and members of the social services from both sides of the border. Monsignor Eamon Martin, recently appointed vicar general of the Derry diocese and widely tipped to succeed Bishop Hegarty upon his retirement, gave the opening address. He said it may take a long time to rebuild trust in the Church that had been "grievously damaged". Msgr Martin said: "In all our contacts with children, they have a fundamental right to be protected, respected and nurtured. All young people need to feel confident that they are safe with everyone they meet in Church settings, that their parish activities are closely monitored and that the horrific things that happened to children in the past won't happen to them." More than 250 lay people and clergy in the Diocese have recently received specialist training in safeguarding children.
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