Victims' Group Calls Bishop's Accusation 'Insulting'

By Colm Kelpie
Irish Independent
September 10, 2012

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/victims-group-calls-bishops-accusation-insulting-3225529.html

ACCUSATIONS levelled at the head of the church's child protection watchdog by a bishop were yesterday branded "immensely insulting" by a leading abuse support group.

Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor has apologised and withdrawn an "assertion" he made concerning the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church and its chief executive Ian Elliott.

Bishop Treanor said the matter that arose between the diocese and the board was a procedural issue, which "required attention".

He said matters were brought to his attention by third parties and were informally raised with the board. It then instigated a formal complaints procedure.

Reports yesterday stated retired Supreme Court Judge Catherine McGuinness was tasked to investigate allegations that Mr Elliott had indulged in spin against the church hierarchy in off-the-record briefings with journalists. She subsequently concluded the accusations were unfounded.

Neither the church nor the board would confirm the nature of the issue raised, or the date of the concerns.

Support group One in Four criticised Bishop Treanor.

Executive director Maeve Lewis said: "It does give an insight into church culture and it strikes me that the church is completely unaccustomed to being held to account for its actions and failures in the manner which the National Board for Safeguarding Children has been doing."

Concern

But in a statement, Bishop Treanor said the issues that he raised were "rooted in my genuine concern for the well-being of victims affected by abuse".

"I support the work of Ian Elliott, his staff and the board and I look forward to continuing our collaborative working relationship."

The national board last week published the second round of its audits focusing on four dioceses -- Clonfert, Limerick, Cork and Ross, and Kildare and Leighlin -- and three religious congregations, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and the Dominican Friars.

Bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley yesterday reiterated his apology to parishioners: "No gesture of repentance or sorrow can ever make up for the suffering caused to children and their families," he said.