Child protection tsar almost quit over Church stance

THE Catholic Church’s child protection tsar, Ian Elliott, was on the verge of resigning in the past year after a review of child protection standards in the country’s 26 dioceses was halted because the Church refused to co-operate.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) was forced to suspend its investigations after the Bishops’ Conference, the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI) and the Irish Missionary Union (IMU) received legal advice that they should not co-operate with the review due to data protection concerns.

The review was suggested by the Catholic hierarchy following public anger after the NBSCCC report publication into the mishandling of abuse complaints in the diocese of Cloyne.