CCTV cameras in Macroom's Catholic church were installed as a general security precaution and not as a result of the findings of the Cloyne report, Parish Priest Fr Donal Roberts said this week.
The Parish Pastoral Council and local priests have written a joint letter to parishioners in the area to assure them of the child protection measures in place following the publication of the Cloyne Report.
Fr Roberts is a co-signatory of the letter, which explains that a number of child protection measures, including CCTV cameras in the church, are in place in Macroom.
Describing the report as 'distressing,' the letter said the "parish acknowledges the disappointment, sadness and hurt felt by many as a result of the failings of the diocese."
Other measures are the training of two child protection officers and the Garda vetting of all parish staff.
"We have an absolute commitment to ensuring that the Safeguarding Children Policy and these structures continue to be implemented and that the safeguarding of children is a priority at all times," the letter states.
Speaking to The Corkman this week, Fr Roberts said that the CCTV equipment was installed in the church prior to the publication of the Cloyne Report and was put in, along with an alarm, as a general security measure.
He said the equipment had been used by Gardai investigating a minor break in at the church recently.
Fr Roberts added that the parish normally contacts the public via letter at this time of year and that the Parish Council thought the missive was an ideal opportunity to reassure parents of the number of ways in which the parish was addressing the issue of child safety.
He said that he believed that CCTVs have been installed in many churches across the country for security reasons.