Fewer than one in 12 priests accused of child sex abuse has faced
prosecution, according to latest annual report of the Catholic Church’s
child protection watchdog published today.
The National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC) report also
disclosed that it was notified of 242 “allegations, concerns and
suspicions of abuse” brought to the attention of Church authorities in
2012.
Most were of a historical nature and related to alleged incidents of
abuse between the 1940s and 1990s, with the biggest number relating to
the 60s, 70s, and 80s. All have been notified to relevant civil
authorities.
The NBSC was also notified in 2012 of two allegations of abuse having
taken place since 2000 and one allegation of abuse taking place in 2012.
“This would underline the continued need for vigilance, good
safeguarding practice and prompt action when the allegation or concern
is notified to Church authority.”
It noted that following completion of its first two tranches of
reviews, involving 10 dioceses and three religious congregations, “some
striking trends” emerge.
“The number of convictions from both dioceses and religious orders for
serious offences against children is low. There were 26 prosecutions out
of a total of 723 allegations involving 320 priests.”
The findings from those first two tranches of reviews undertaken by the
NBSC were published in November 2011 and September 2012. Each looked at
records going back to 1975. A further tranche of reviews was published
last month while a fourth is underway.
To date, 16 of Ireland’s 26 Catholic dioceses have been subject to a
NBSC review with a further six to be completed by September next. It is
expected that all 26 dioceses will have been reviewed by the end of this
year.
So far, five religious congregations have been subject to review
with the intention of having all major congregations reviewed b y the
end of 2014.
In a statement accompanying the report, NBSC chairman John Morgan noted
“the success of our National Case Management Reference Group” which
“has been a cause of pleasant surprise. A total of 15 dioceses and 22
religious congregations now subscribe to it for specific advice.”
He also disclosed that “a comprehensive review” of the NBSC is to take place over the summer months.
He noted that NBSC chief executive Ian Elliott retires at the end of
June. “His record as chief executive over the last six years has been
superlative. We are all in his debt for the leadership he has provided
in seeking to bring best practice child safeguarding to all aspects of
Church activity.
“We are conscious that Mr Elliott’s services will be eagerly sought
after, and we hope he will be successful in all he undertakes and that
our relationship with him can continue, in some form, after his
retirement.”
In his contribution to the report, Mr Elliott observed that his six
years as inaugural chief executive at the NBSC “was for me a fantastic
learning opportunity in which I felt privileged to meet and work with
many wonderful people who shared my passion for protecting the
vulnerable child. A great deal of progres has been made and a number of
significant challenges have been faced.”
Mr Morgan also paid tribute to Sr Martina Barret who has retired from
the NBSC having served as a director since 2006 and to the new Coadjutor
Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin who resigned from the NBSC last
Febraury following his appointment to Armagh.
Mr Morgane also remembered Dr Kathleen Garner, who died in July 2012, for “her helpful contributions to our discussions.”