The former head of the Catholic Church’s child protection watchdog fears a “desire” exists within the Church hierarchy to limit “by covert means” the role of the safeguarding board.

Concerns about a priest who was serial paedophile were not passed on to senior diocesan figures or to the authorities in the north west despite being known at a early stage.

Fourteen allegations of abuse have surfaced in the Diocese of Down and Connor since 2008.