REACTION:VICTIM SUPPORT group One-in-Four yesterday welcomed the "huge improvement" in co-operation between the Catholic Church and the statutory agencies highlighted by the six diocesan reports carried out by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.
The group’s executive director, Maeve Lewis, said the reports show that real progress had been made in putting in place child-protection measures in the six dioceses.
“We also welcome the recommendation in the audits that the designated child-protection officer should be a professional lay person with experience in the field.”
However, she said the group had “some concerns regarding the number of priests against whom allegations have been made who are still in ministry”.
“This highlights the dilemma where the Garda or HSE cannot reach a definitive opinion as to the veracity of the allegation but where there may be substantial concerns. It would have been helpful if the reasons for priests remaining in ministry had been discussed.”
Speaking in Co Donegal, victim John ODonnell (55) from Falcarragh said he knew the audit and report would not give comfort to the survivors of clerical sex abuse.
“What about people who were abused who have since gone on to commit suicide? Or what about those in mental homes or have become alcoholics or drug addicts?”
Mr ODonnell said it had taken him until he was 55 years of age, had become an alcoholic and lost his marriage to find the courage to come forward.
Another victim, Martin Gallagher (45) from Gortahork, Co Donegal, said nothing but a full State investigation would satisfy those whose lives were ruined.
“There are so many people in graveyards in Co Donegal who I believe took their own lives as a result of attacks by paedophile priests.”
The US clerical sex abuse victims’ lobby group Snap said it was crucial that “truly independent, State-sponsored investigations into widespread clergy sex crimes and cover-ups take place”.
When contacted yesterday, Vatican senior spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said he had no comment to make.
Amnesty Ireland said that while it welcomed “some signs of progress” in the diocesan audits, it had a number of serious concerns. Executive director Colm O’Gorman said the examination of the Diocese of Raphoe was “particularly worrying”.
“It highlights concerns over the approach adopted to child-protection complaints by three bishops, including bishop Dr Philip Boyce, and concerns about the system for protecting children as late as 2009.”
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the audits of the dioceses indicated “lessons had been learned” and that current practice and the handling of accusations of clerical child sex abuse was positive.
Chief executive Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop said clients availing of the centre’s services whose allegations were not handled appropriately in the past “may not find much comfort in these reports”.
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MINISTER FOR Children Frances Fitzgerald said she would have the abuse reports reviewed by the HSE. Ms Fitzgerald said she also intended to meet the chief executive of the safeguarding board, Ian Elliott, and HSE national director Gordon Jeyes to discuss the findings.
She said a “close working relationship” had developed between Mr Elliott and Mr Jeyes following her request for greater collaboration on foot of the Cloyne report.
“The purpose of this engagement is to ensure that the church has in place the necessary structures and practices to safeguard children, and that it is operating in accordance with the provisions of the Children First national guidance,” she said.
Ms Fitzgerald said the reports demonstrated evidence that the reporting of allegations to the statutory authorities now occurred promptly and comprehensively, and that the need to create a safe environment for children was accepted by each diocese.