Concern at Church’s hindering of abuse probe

CHILDREN’S Minister Frances Fitzgerald has expressed concern about the “shortcomings and severe difficulties” experienced by the Catholic Church’s National Board for Safeguarding Children as it tried to investigate child protection in the 26 dioceses.

At the launch of its third annual report, NBSC chief executive Ian Elliott revealed how a planned review of child protection policy was stymied due to the Church’s concerns about data protection. In subsequent negotiations with the NBSC, the Church asked for the review’s findings to not be made public.

Responding, Ms Fitzgerald said the protection of children “is an absolute priority for this government”.

“It is my view as Minister for Children that anything less than full co-operation with a board whose purpose is to investigate the Church’s compliance with child protection procedures, cannot be tolerated. It is imperative that all elements of the Church co-operate with internal and external bodies investigating allegations of child abuse.

“I will now consider the report’s implications in detail as part of an ongoing process to review and strengthen child protection measures in the state.”

The child abuse victim support group One in Four accused the dioceses and the congregations of “hiding behind data protection concerns to avoid participating in a long promised review”.

Executive director Maeve Lewis said the state may need to extend the Murphy Commission’s work to every diocese and congregation if the country is to ever appreciate the full extent of clerical abuse. “The question must be asked why it is only when a statutory body such as the Ryan and Murphy Commissions investigates the church that the appalling truth is revealed?”