Belfast Information sought into church sex abuse

By PHILIP BRADFIELD

The Public Prosecution Service has asked the PSNI for further information on a Northern Ireland-wide probe into alleged clerical sexual abuse dating back decades.

The police investigation – sparked by the Ferns Inquiry in Co Wexford – had previously come under fire because the PSNI agreed not to inspect Catholic Church archives first hand, instead accepting summaries of allegations.

In 2005, the Ferns Inquiry found 21 priests had sexually abused children in Co Wexford over 40 years. The PSNI and Social Services later met with Catholic Church representatives to explore the implications for Northern Ireland.

In March last year, Archbishop Sean Brady said everything in the Church's knowledge about Northern Ireland from 1965 to 2005 – proven or unproven – had been reported to the relevant authorities.

But a senior source in the Church later confirmed to the News Letter that only "summaries" of allegations against 81 employees on file were passed to the police.

Two charities which support sex abuse survivors, Nexus and One-In-Four, called on the PSNI to press for full access to the original records.

The PPS has now confirmed it had been passed a file by the police on April 5 which covered PSNI investigations into the period concerned. It said the latest position was that the PPS had asked the police for further information in relation to the file.

Upper Bann DUP MP David Simpson said he was worried that the PPS now required more information after concerns had been raised that not all information may have been handed to police.

"It is certainly a matter of concern that the PPS now require further information on these allegations. "I have been unable to get confirmation that the police did not settle for only summaries of church archives dating back to the 1960s.

"This would be a worrying development as it would create a greater possibility that not all of the evidence would be set before the PPS and would give a greater possibility that
some people guilty of serious criminal activity could get off," he said.

"In a parliamentary answer to me on July 12, Security Minister Paul Goggins failed to clarify whether or not only summaries of abuse allegations were handed to police."

What is needed is full disclosure that would allow for a thorough investigation – not just of those who may have been guilty of abuse – but also of anyone who may have been implicated after the event by failing to take proper action or by simply moving criminals on to new areas."

He said he was heartened that his long-standing call for full disclosure was supported recently in the Assembly by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.MEP Jim Allister discovered the PSNI had passed their file to the PPS after writing to the Chief Constable.
"I will await the outcome of the PPS deliberations on the file with interest," he said.