NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Times
Patsy McGarry
The diocese of Down and Connor in Northern Ireland has decided a priest who faced child abuse allegations but was not charged by the civil authorities should remain out of public ministry.
In a statement on Friday the diocese said that in October 2009 it was notified by the civil authorities “of concerns of a safeguarding nature raised against Fr Paul Symonds”.
In accordance with church policy it said Fr Symonds “stepped aside to facilitate a full investigation by the civil authorities”.
However “in 2011, after statutory investigation, with which the diocese and Fr Symonds co-operated fully, and during which Fr Symonds was never charged with a criminal offence,” it said “the determination of the Prosecution Service was not to prosecute”. After which, as is procedure, “the church’s own internal canonical inquiry resumed”.
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