The handling of clerical abuse cases and child safeguarding in Clare parishes will be under the spotlight in a major review beginning today.
The National Board for Safeguarding Children will commence a review of practices in the Killaloe Diocese as part of a process initiated in the wake of a number of reports into clerical child sex abuse in other parts of the country.
The Board seeks to work with Church Leaders, clergy, lay representatives and congregations to recognise and deal with the historical abuse of children, and to ensure the safety and well-being of children in current church activities.
After the damning Murphy and Cloyne reports into the churches handling of Clerical Child Sex Abuse cases, the Board commenced audits of child protection policy in the Catholic Church throughout Ireland, and over the coming days a full review of child safeguarding practices in the Killaloe diocese will be carried out, past cases of clerical abuse will be examined, and a report on the boards findings is expected to be issued sometime next year.
Ahead of today’s audit, the Killaloe Diocese urged anyone affected by child sexual abuse or other child protection issues in Clare’s Catholic parishes to come forward if they haven’t already done so, or to make contact with the state authorities.
