Irish Examiner
July 13, 2011
http://www.examiner.ie/breakingnews/ireland/callinan-report-outlines-concerns-about-garda-handling-of-three-cases-512657.html
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The Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, has said the publication of the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Cloyne "details another difficult and sorry chapter" into the Church's and State response to child sexual abuse.
The Commissioner said: "This report details another difficult and sorry chapter in the story of how both Church and State authorities in Ireland responded to the sexual abuse of young people in our community. It outlines omissions and failures in the way in which complaints and allegations were addressed.
"The Commission did state that it was very concerned about the approach adopted by the gardai when dealing with complaints in three cases outlined in the report.”
The Garda Commissioner apologised to the victims at the heart of those cases.
Mr Callinan said: "It is a matter of regret to me that people did not receive the appropriate attention and action from the Garda Siochana to which they were entitled. The policies and structures now in place are very much victim-focused and designed to ensure that no one has a similar experience today.”
Emphasising again the importance of individuals reporting sexual crime to gardai, the Garda Commissioner said: "I want to assure the community that we have invested much time, energy and resources into ensuring that both our policies and people are effective in this sensitive and challenging area. Anyone making a complaint to gardai will be met with sensitivity and with professionalism.”
The Commissioner has asked Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne to examine the report to see whether, in addition to action already taken, any further action can be taken against the abusers referred to in it.
Any person wishing to provide information in relation to the report published or who want to report information about the commission of a criminal offence arising from the report can contact the dedicated telephone line established at the offices of Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, Harcourt Square, Dublin 2 at – 01-6663612.
Alternatively people can write to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, Harcourt Square, Dublin 2.
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