‘Give gardaí the right to share abuse information’

The Church’s child protection watchdog has warned the Government to urgently update data protection laws so gardaí can fully inform bishops and child protection workers in the Church about abuse allegations made directly to the Garda Síochána.

Current data protection legislation forbids the transfer of such information from gardaí to the Church, and is leading to situations where children could be left at risk as a bishop and his child protection team aren’t entitled to the full details of the allegation.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) is not entitled to such information as it is not a statutory agency.