Calls for Cloyne abuse report to be published

Calls have been made for the Government to immediately publish a report into the handling of allegations of sexual abuse against members of the clergy in the Diocese of Cloyne.

Labour’s Sean Sherlock said the Government’s refusal to publish the report is “a totally cowardly position”.

The report, prepared by Ian Elliot, chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC), was submitted to Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews last July.

Mr Sherlock said: “We now need to know exactly what Mr Elliot established and what action is being taken in the Diocese of Cloyne to implement the recommendations he made.

“This is the least we owe to those who were subjected to shocking sexual abuse and whose complaints do not appear to have been dealt with in an appropriate manner.”

However, Mr Andrews said that as the report was not commissioned by the Government, responsibility for its publication lies with the NBSCCC.