Clarke to review SEHB sexual abuse case

A HEALTH board has ordered an independent review into the handling of a case involving one of its employees who was accused of sexually abusing children.

The man, who was employed by the South Eastern Health Board at the time, was the subject of an internal investigation two years ago, but there were no criminal proceedings.

The board has now employed Madeleine Clarke, the former deputy chief executive of Barnardo’s, to carry out the independent review.

Her work is due to be complete within weeks and the board has promised to comply fully with her findings. A Sunday newspaper alleged the person continued to work in a

hospital in the southeast after the health board declared he had

sexually abused children.

It is alleged he abused two children in the hospital and the parents were notified. It was further claimed the children’s parents did not press charges in a bid to spare the children further suffering.

The health board had the children assessed and it concluded they had been abused. The man was then moved to a different part of the hospital complex.

Meanwhile, concerns have been expressed over the practicality and effectiveness of the Hussey inquiry into clerical abuse after it emerged that files on known paedophile priests are not available. Garda inquiries are continuing in Dublin, Ferns, Clare, Cork and Donegal.

Bishops in Ireland said they were shocked after Bishop of Raphoe Dr Philip Boyce confirmed three priests under investigation were still practising in Donegal.

A spokesperson for Bishop John Buckley of Cork said it was difficult to understand the exact procedure followed in Donegal, but that if it was in his own diocese the priests would be removed immediately.

“Nobody knows when the complaints were received so it is very difficult for any Bishop to remove a priest from his work if he only received the complaints recently. It takes time to investigate the seriousness of these issues and to make certain that these are not malicious calls,” a spokesperson said.

Gardaí are presently investigation a child sex abuse case in Bishop Buckley’s own diocese. Bishop Thomas Flynn, from the Diocese of Achonry said the recent events saddened him. Not only had the church handled the issue of child sex abuse dreadfully but society in general had not dealt with the issue properly, he said.

“I have begged people for years to do an expert scientific study into why people, not just priests, abuse children. I read recently where there are 450 child sexual abusers in prison in Ireland at present and

only six of them are priests. Of course, we have a problem but this is an issue for everyone,” he said.