Monday, June 29, 2026

Presbyterian Church in Ireland safeguarding crisis: 13 more referrals made to PSNI

Police have been given a further 13 referrals in their investigation into the collapse of central safeguarding functions in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Former Presbyterian moderator Rev Trevor Gribben stood down in November after a review found “serious and significant failings” in the church's central safeguarding functions for children and vulnerable adults from 2009 to 2022.

The PSNI and the Charity Commission have both launched major investigations.

In February Detective Chief Superintendent Zoe McKee, head of the PSNI public protection branch, confirmed they had received 101 referrals after a public appeal for anyone impacted by the situation to come forward.

In an update this week, police told the News Letter that they now have 114 referrals, including "direct reports from victims, referrals from safeguarding partners and other parties”.

PCI did not offer any comment but referred back to a statement by ex-moderator Rev Richard Kerr when the first figures were published.

He had said the church was "saddened" to learn of the initial 101 referrals, but said they had appealed for any victims to come forward in November and said PCI remains "committed to cooperating fully with the police".

Commenting, Director of Kaizen Safeguarding, Leigh McFarland told the News Letter it was "sad to hear" that 13 more potential victims had come forward "and that the magnitude of this incident continues to grow".

"However it is encouraging to hear that they have felt able to come forward and speak to the PSNI," said the director of the Bangor consultancy. "Speaking out is an act of considerable bravery."

The news came after the An Garda Siochana launched its own appeal on “abuse relating to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland” last week.

Gardai said any resident in the Republic who “believes they were a victim of a criminal act relating” to the PCI should contact them.

A spokesperson said it would endeavour to effectively deal with all contacts, but there may be limitations in some cases “due to matters such as the unavailability of evidence over time or suspects and/or witnesses being deceased.”

Garda had not received any direct complaints from residents in the Republic and have been working closely with the PSNI.

Separately, the Northern Ireland Department of Justice says its AccessNI vetting service has its busiest ever year, in 2025/26, processing almost 190,000 criminal record checks. This is an increase of around 4% on the previous year.

PCI told the News Letter it has dramatically increased its use of the service, but said its figures were too small to have significantly contributed.

Earlier this month PCI Operations director Ken Swarbrick told the PCI General Assembly the church safeguarding department was “overstretched and at times overwhelmed” but was continuing to expand. He said it had processed more than 1,000 vetting applications since May.

Before the crisis the church vetted all relevant people at appointment, but now they are vetted once every three years.

Also this month, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), NI’s health and social care regulator, said it had carried out proactive inspections in light of the safeguarding crisis. It looked at all eight of PCI’s residential care homes, nursing homes and domiciliary care agencies

but "did not find cause for concern". As with many inspections, some areas for improvement were identified, it added.