THE PSNI is investigating 170 allegations of clerical sex abuse against children. Confirmation of this came yesterday in the wake of the publication last Wednesday of six reports by the National Board For Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.
The PSNI said there had been 164 allegations of abuse made against 85 priests in six Catholic dioceses since 1975. Eight of the priests had been convicted, none in Northern Ireland.
Included among the reports was one on Dromore diocese, which is wholly in Northern Ireland. It includes parts of Down, Armagh and Antrim. There was also a report on Derry diocese, most of which is also in Northern Ireland.
The board’s report for Dromore revealed the second highest number of allegations made against priests of the six dioceses reported on. There, 10 priests faced 35 allegations. None has been convicted.
The report for Derry diocese disclosed that 23 priests there faced 31 allegations with, again, none convicted in the courts.
In all, six dioceses were reported on, the other four being Kilmore, Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Raphoe, and Tuam.