Church to carry out audit of clerical abuse claims

AN audit of child sex abuse allegations in every Catholic diocese in the country is to begin within weeks after the bishops agreed procedures for the inquiry yesterday.

Allegations against diocesan priests, members of religious orders and missionary societies will all be included in the audit. It will seek to determine the numbers of allegations in each diocese and whether the complaints were properly handled by church authorities.

The bishops have given a commitment that any allegations uncovered that were not properly handled will be referred to the gardaí or the PSNI, and to relevant health authorities north and south.