Catholic child protection measures in North set for review

A review of child protection policies at Catholic dioceses in the North, including the Diocese of Raphoe, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children said today that it is committed to a nationwide audit of all 186 church authorities and the first phase will be done by December.

The dioceses in the north include Raphoe, Down and Connor, Dromore, Armagh, Derry and Clogher.

Former Bishop of Raphoe, Seamus Hegarty, has been challenged to account for his handling of clerical child abuse allegations during his time in office between 1982 and 1994.

The bishops are due to meet next month and it is expected they will confirm the North will be the first region to be audited, the findings of which will be made public.