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	Church Has Been Disgraced By Damian Dowds Inishowen Independent December 1, 2011 http://www.inishowennews.com/011ChildAbuse525.htm NO CRIMINAL convictions have been secured against any of the 23 priests in the Derry Diocese against whom allegations of child sexual abuse have been made since 1975. The details are contained in the review conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) into the Derry Diocese, which was published yesterday. Monsignor Eamonn Martin, who was last week elected Administrator of the Diocese following the resignation of Bishop Seamus Hegarty, said he was sorry for the hurt caused and is ashamed at how victims were treated. He said that the Church has been disgraced by putting the avoidance of scandal ahead of the welfare of children. The report said that priests about whom concerns were expressed were not robustly challenged or managed, and were often ‘handled’ by moving them to postings elsewhere. It added that evidence exists that these priests continued to engage in abusive behaviour after they were moved. The review said that Inishowen’s geographic isolation from the rest of the diocese meant it was somewhat removed from the exchange of information. It also noted that vetting procedures in Inishowen is slower and more difficult than in the rest of the diocese. Between January 1, 1975 and August 31, 2011 allegations were made to the Garda or police against 23 different priests. Sixteen of those priests are now dead. Of the remaining seven against whom allegations were made, four have since left the priesthood while three are either in ministry or retired. The review dealt only with priests of the Derry Diocese. One non-diocesan priest currently resides in the diocese against whom an allegation has been made. No priest is named in the review. Although it was invited to take part in the review, the HSE declined to take part. The report is dated August 2011, prior to Bishop Hegarty’s resignation on health grounds, and was published yesterday in conjunction with audits carried out in five other dioceses including Raphoe. The NBSCCC said that they received a sincere welcome and real attitude of openness from Bishop Hegarty and his staff, adding that past mistakes and oversights were readily acknowledged. However, the review said that the diocese faces a challenge in gaining full commitment from all priests to fully subscribe to its ‘Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures’ that was published in November 2010. At least two priests were reported not to be fully behind the policy, which obliges clergy, staff and volunteers to uphold the highest standards of safeguarding in order to prevent harm to children. The report authors write: “In 2011 it should not be tolerated that any priest of Derry Diocese can remain ambivalent towards and non-supportive of the diocesan policy.” It recommends that the reported attitude and behaviour of the two priests be addressed as a matter of urgency.
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