Shatter unveils plans to make failure to report child abuse punishable by up to 5 years in prison

COMPULSORY reporting of child abuse, even by doctors and by priests hearing confession, will be required under new plans unveiled yesterday by Government.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald unveiled the measures in the immediate aftermath of the publication of the Cloyne Report and growing anger over the failings of both the Catholic Church here and interference by the Vatican.

Among the measures is the Heads of the Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes Against Children and Intellectually Disabled Person) Bill, which will make it an offence punishable by up to five years in prison to withhold information relating to serious offences against those under 18 years or with an intellectual disability. Mr Shatter said this will include doctors and priests, with exceptions made for victims of sex crimes who may be traumatised and need time to recover before making their complaint known.