Priest defends role in sexual abuse claim

THE man in charge of child protection in the Diocese of Cloyne said he acted in accordance with Church and state guidelines by informing a priest accused of abuse who his accuser was and the nature of their complaint.

Fr Bill Bermingham said, as the designated child protection officer, he followed guidelines laid down by the Department of Health and Children and the Catholic Church for dealing with allegations. He said the guidelines required him to carry out a number of steps, including immediately informing the HSE and gardaí of a complaint.

Fr Bermingham said when conducting interviews with an accused person, he was specifically required to inform them of the identity of the complainant and the details of the allegation. He said the document Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church, which is fully compliant with child protection legislation, states an accused person must be given enough detail about the allegation to be able to offer a response.