Allegations made against 23 Derry Diocese priests since 1975

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The Ulster Herald (N. Ireland)

01 December 2013

AN extensive report into how the Diocese of Derry handled child abuse allegations against priests has revealed that only seven of the 23 priests subject to allegations since January 1975 are still living.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) have been auditing the Catholic diocese, which includes 16 dioceses in West Tyrone since July 4. The audit process found that despite 23 priests being subject to allegations, 31 police investigations and 33 allegations reported to police since January 1 1975, there were no convictions in the diocese.

The report also reveals that 16 of the priests subject to allegations are now dead, while four are ‘out of Ministry’ or have left the priesthood. Three remain priests or are retired according to the report. The NBSCCC auditors also found that one other priest unconnected with the diocese, but subject to an allegation was living within the diocesan area.

The NBSCCC audit was sanctioned by the Catholic Church across all 26 dioceses and religious orders following immense criticism over the institution’s handling of numerous allegations of child abuse across Ireland over the past few years.

Since July, auditors from the body have been tasked with reviewing child protection policies and how allegations were handled against priests working within the 51 parishes in Tyrone, Derry and Donegal which make up the Derry Diocese, over the past 36 years.

Alongside a previous audit from 2009, the current report has flagged up a number of failings in how historical cases of child abuse allegations were dealt with. It found that, “Priests about whom there were clear concerns were not robustly challenged or adequately managed and problems were often ‘handled’ by moving them to postings elsewhere.

“There is evidence that abusive behaviour continued to be exhibited by priests who were moved on in this manner.”

Allegations made against 23 Derry Diocese priests since 1975

AN extensive report into how the Diocese of Derry handled child abuse allegations against priests has revealed that only seven of the 23 priests subject to allegations since January 1975 are still living.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) have been auditing the Catholic diocese, which includes 16 dioceses in West Tyrone since July 4. The audit process found that despite 23 priests being subject to allegations, 31 police investigations and 33 allegations reported to police since January 1 1975, there were no convictions in the diocese.

The report also reveals that 16 of the priests subject to allegations are now dead, while four are ‘out of Ministry’ or have left the priesthood. Three remain priests or are retired according to the report. The NBSCCC auditors also found that one other priest unconnected with the diocese, but subject to an allegation was living within the diocesan area.

The NBSCCC audit was sanctioned by the Catholic Church across all 26 dioceses and religious orders following immense criticism over the institution’s handling of numerous allegations of child abuse across Ireland over the past few years.

Since July, auditors from the body have been tasked with reviewing child protection policies and how allegations were handled against priests working within the 51 parishes in Tyrone, Derry and Donegal which make up the Derry Diocese, over the past 36 years.

Alongside a previous audit from 2009, the current report has flagged up a number of failings in how historical cases of child abuse allegations were dealt with. It found that, “Priests about whom there were clear concerns were not robustly challenged or adequately managed and problems were often ‘handled’ by moving them to postings elsewhere.

“There is evidence that abusive behaviour continued to be exhibited by priests who were moved on in this manner.”

– See more at: http://ulsterherald.com/2011/12/01/allegations-made-against-23-derry-diocese-priests-since-1975/#sthash.d4AxZ765.dpuf

1 Response to Allegations made against 23 Derry Diocese priests since 1975

  1. Sylvia says:

    “The audit process found that despite 23 priests being subject to allegations, 31 police investigations and 33 allegations reported to police since January 1 1975, there were no convictions in the diocese.”

    No convictions? All of that and not one single conviction?

    Either there’s a lot of liars alleging childhood sex abuse who need to be dealt with, or there’s a problem with the police which needs to be addressed.

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