Fresh Abuse Allegations As Diocese Reports Launched

Newstalk
April 24, 2013

http://www.newstalk.ie/reader/47.301/8421/0/


[with audio]

Seven reports have been released today which exmained child protection services in 6 dioceses and one order

Galway, Waterford, Clogher, Ferns, Kilalla and Elphin as well as the Society of African Missions religious order have all been subject to the reviews.

Out of the 7, the report into the Diocese of Ferns, is severely critical of two former Bishops in the Diocese for their handling of child sexual abuse cases.

The report by the National Bord for Safeguarding Children shows 100 allegations of child sexual abuse were made in the diocese since 1975.

3 priests have been convicted of committing an offence against a child in that time.

The report says one Bishop felt bound to appoint any priest ordained to a ministry in spite of his manifest unsuitability for the position while a second Bishop had an inappropriate and inadequate response to serious allegations and failed to recognise the need to protect children.

However the report finds that improvements have been made in the diocese since April 2002. The Ferns report is one of 7 that looks at Child protection policies.

Across the board failure to protect

The border Diocese of Clogher has been singled out for failing to prevent child abuse in the past.

The reviewers said it was clear that in the past opportunities to intervene and prevent abuse were consistently missed.

In one particular case, there was an unacceptable delay in taking action against a priest and removing him from all ministry, following receipt of a credible allegation.

In another case a priest of the diocese was suspected of multiple incidents of abuse, but he was not removed from ministry. He was instead transferred to another parish and eventually was sent overseas for therapeutic help.

He remained outside the jurisdiction and was eventually extradited back to Ireland several years later but died before he could be brought before the courts.

The former bishop of the Diocese of Clogher has been criticised by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.

The report into the Society of African Missions found 21 allegations of abuse have been made against priests with the order since January 1975. Out of the 21 only one has been convicted.

2 of the priests against whom allegations were made, and who are still living, have been laicised and an application for a third is being processed in Rome.

3 other members about whom concerns were raised, remain in ministry in mission countries. However the report concludes that there were no safeguarding issues to be addressed in these cases.

Child Safeguarding

3 priests who had allegations made against them are still in ministry in Galway but the report into the Diocese found that the majority of standards have been met.

Speaking to Galway Bay FM Bishop Drennan said the concerns expressed were not of sufficient nature to warrant their removal from ministry.

Despite allegations being made against 21 priests in the Diocese of Elphin since January 1975 the Diocese has been commended for its work in safeguarding children across all seven standards that were examined in the reports.

It said the reviewers were supplied with an impressive range of documentation which was of a very high standard, well produced and easily accessible.

Bishop of Elphin Christopher Jones, who is set to retire, said he welcomed and fully accepted the review. He said his immediate thoughts were with the survivors of child abuse everywhere, particularly within his Diocese.

In Kilalla there have been 3 allegations of child abuse made against priests in the Diocese since 1975 according to a report into child protection practices but no convictions have arose from the allegations.

A review of child protection practices in the diocese notes the low number of cases compared to other areas.

It also highlights prompt reporting to Gardai and the HSE.