Overview Report

National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church
September 9, 2015

http://www.safeguarding.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Overview-Report-43-Congregations.pdf

As part of the process of Safeguarding reviews, the National Board was invited to examine the child safeguarding practice of the 43 Religious Orders and Congregations, whose reports are being made public today. Full details of those reviewed are appended to this overview.

The reviews were conducted according to two different methodologies, depending on the degree of ministry with children and whether there were known allegations against members of the Order/Congregation. The Terms of Reference for each type of review can be found on the Board’s website www.safeguarding.ie and are attached to each review report.

The fieldwork which began in January 2015 and completed in July 2015 was initiated through the signing of a data processing deed which allowed National Board reviewers to access data held by the Order/Congregation. The reviews consisted of an examination of case files, policies and procedures as well as interviews with all those who hold a role in the safeguarding structure, a critique of this material and an assessment against the Church’s seven safeguarding standards has been made in relation to those Orders/Congregations who have ministry with children and who have had allegations against their members.

The purpose of the full reviews is to ensure compliance against the Church’s safeguarding standards, approved and adopted in 2009, Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland, with particular reference to the management of safeguarding allegations. Where there were allegations of sexual abuse, all cases files were examined. In addition, at the request of the Church Authority, allegations of other forms of abuse, physical and emotional were also examined. The Terms of Reference are clear in stating that in terms of allegations, the concentration is on current risk, in other words the reviewers read files relating to living priests/brothers/sisters. Where the reviewers referenced priests, or brothers or sisters who were deceased, it is because the review of those cases merited comment in terms of future safeguarding practice.