Report Reveals 36 Allegations of Child Sex Abuse in Armagh Archdiocese
The Ulster Herald
[Armagh] A report into how the Armagh Archdiocese handled allegations of child sex abuse has revealed that 36 allegations have been made against priests since 1975. The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church’s audit into child protection in the Archdiocese found that the allegations concerned 16 priests, nine of whom are still alive. Four are still ‘in ministry’. Just one priest has been convicted since January 1 1975. Seven priests have since died. The reports refer to alleged abuse perpetrated between 1950 and 2000. The audit was carried out over three days in August this year. The publication of the report has this morning (Tuesday) prompted an apology from Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh. Directly addressing abuse victims, he said, “I know that for you, survivors of abuse and your families, days such as today are especially difficult. You have suffered terribly and I am truly sorry.” AUDIT This morning’s publication into the Armagh Archdiocese came as part of the latest tranche of audits into six Catholic dioceses along with the Christian Brothers and the St Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. Audits on the Derry and Clogher dioceses have already been published. The Armagh Archdiocese, which spans counties Louth, Armagh, Tyrone and Derry, takes in 17 Tyrone parishes including Beragh, Errigal Ciaran, Termonmaguirc, Aghaloo, Kildress and Pomeroy parishes. Some 19 allegations of child sex abuse were reported to have happened between 1950 and 1980 and thirteen between 1980 and 2000. In four instances the dates of alleged abuse are not recorded. There have been no new allegations which refer to abuse having been perpetrated post 2000. The alleged locations of the abuse include a parochial house, sacristy and a car. The report states that 19 allegations of abuse were made more than 30 years after the abuse was alleged to have happened. The only recorded conviction came in December 2004, when a priest was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the abuse of five children. He served six years and was removed from ministry in 2002. ‘LACK OF CLARITY’ While the safeguarding report has largely endorsed existing measures in place within the Archdiocese, it states that, “There is little information on the receipt and management of allegations in the Archdiocese prior to 1995, with inconsistent filing leading to a lack of clarity about how decisions were made.” The NBSCCC states that while Cardinal Brady made “a commendable decision” to gather information when he was appointed in 1996, but adds, “The reviewers cannot be confident that the records of allegations made prior to 1995 are complete.” It also expresses concern prior to 1996 about “gaps in some key areas”. Some of the gaps are described as “significant”. As a result, the NBSCCC makes recommendations as to how the Archdiocese structures files and how information is exchanged. ‘ACT PROMPTLY’ In a statement this morning, Cardinal Brady said he accepted the report in its entirety and would act promptly on the recommendations. “The Review endorses our current policy and procedures. I am reassured that safeguarding practice in the Archdiocese conforms to the highest national standards. Forty five out of the forty eight assessment criteria have been fully met and the remaining three have been partially met. “While we acknowledge the Report’s findings that in the past the response was not as prompt, robust and co-ordinated as in the present, we will continue to do all we can to ensure that current high standards of safeguarding practice are maintained. “As I have already stated, we must remain attentive and vigilant. Our children, and especially those who have suffered, deserve no less.”
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