A criminal investigation is now underway in connection with safeguarding failures within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) as the PSNI insists it was not aware of “the potential scale” until last week.
The PSNI confirmed the probe has been launched in response to revelations of “serious and significant” failings between 2009 and 2022 which resulted in Dr Rev Trevor Gribben resigning as Moderator last Wednesday.
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck confirmed yesterday that the probe will seek to identify victims and determine if criminal offences have been committed.
“Our role will be to investigate criminality and secure evidence in respect of that and to place people before the courts if warranted,” he said.
The constable rejected suggestions that the PSNI should have acted sooner, as he insisted the force only became aware of the extent of the failings last week.
ACC Beck said that by Sunday the situation had developed to the point where “I felt we are now in realms of criminal investigation”.
He confirmed the probe will examine questions such as: “Was everything shared with us at the earliest stage and was all action taken to safeguard victims?”
“Certainly what we have learned over the last number of days is the potential scale of this,” he added.
The PSNI also confirmed that the investigation, which is looking at a number of individuals, has potential to become a cross-border probe. An Garda Síochána has been notified.
“Let’s be absolutely clear. We are working to identify victims and to address perpetrators, and we will go where the evidence takes us in regards to that,” ACC Beck warned.
Police confirmed last week that they were involved in discussions with the PCI after concerns were raised by the church following the conviction of an individual in 2024 for child sexual offences.
Acting Clerk of the General Assembly Rev Dr David Allen said the church had launched an internal probe which identified “serious and significant” failings, after receiving information from police in May this year.
It was the case of convicted paedophile and ex-primary school teacher William Maher (38), of Kings Brae in Belfast, that highlighted the flaws in procedures, according to Sunday Life.
PCI has welcomed the PSNI probe and vowed to co-operate with detectives.
“We welcome this, believing it will provide a thorough, trusted and transparent outcome,” a spokesperson said.
“We will co-operate fully with the investigation. We will make available all relevant files, reports and information to assist police with their inquiries.”
The spokesperson said the church will not be making any further comment related to the inquiry “or aspects pertaining to it” in light of the investigation.
The interim Victims of Crime Commissioner, Geraldine Hanna, welcomed the PSNI’s commitment to keeping the needs of victims at the centre as she stressed the impact of the church’s failings.
“When an individual is failed by an institution, it can be difficult,” she said.
“But when that institution is their church, the centrepiece of their faith, it can be devastating.”
Ms Hanna said it is important that the church has acknowledged its shortcomings as she called for clear pathways of support for all those who come forward.
It comes after the church’s former head of safeguarding, who settled legal action against PCI after she was suspended in January 2024, said she attempted to raise the alarm over safeguarding failures after taking up the role.
Dr Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin was in post from May 2019 until her employment ceased in June 2025, and is unable to discuss her departure due to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The expert revealed on Radio Ulster she asked PCI to clarify that the person referred to in its statement last week as no longer being in post was not a reference to her, but it “refused”, leaving her “no option but to make it public knowledge”.
Dr Montgomery-Devlin described her “struggle” to try to convince higher-ups of the need to take safeguarding seriously and alleged there was a “culture of control” and “coercive bullying” within PCI.
“I thought the Moderator and Clerk of Assembly was beyond reproach. That was my experience when I was there,” she said.
Dr Montgomery-Devlin said she was in the process of engaging with congregations across the island, had set up a panel chaired by former Moderator Norman Hamilton and had drawn up a position paper at the time she “had to leave post”.
“I understand it [the panel] was stood down fairly soon after. I was told that they were told the objectives have been achieved,” she added.
Asked if PCI is able to adequately address its shortcomings, Dr Montgomery-Devlin said: “Absolutely not.”
She called for a totally independent public inquiry, in addition to a PSNI investigation, as she demanded that trained counsellors are used to dealing with calls being made to the dedicated helpline being set up by the church.
ACC Beck confirmed police have been liaising with a number of statutory authorities since last week and stressed that the investigation is at a very early stage.
He said a “small number” of victims have already come forward to police.
“It's not the number that's important at this stage, it's that there are victims out there," he insisted.
“This will be a victim-led investigation. It will be robust.”