Victims and survivors of historical child abuse in faith settings encouraged to share their experiences

Newry CathedralNews

The Diocese of Dromore encourages victims/survivors of clerical abuse to participate in the NI Assembly Executive Office’s research project on historical child abuse in faith settings. Full details, including contact information, can be found in the two press releases below.

Executive Office Press release: Victims and survivors of historical child abuse in faith settings encouraged to share their experiences.

Date published: 8 January 2025

The First Minister and deputy First Minister are encouraging victims and survivors of historical child abuse in faith settings to tell their stories as part of a research study.

The project, which has been commissioned by The Executive Office, will look at the experiences of victims and survivors across all faith settings. It will also seek to understand what participants see as potential next steps.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: 

“Clerical child abuse has had a devastating impact on many people here, and those affected deserve truth and justice. It is also important that they are able to tell their stories about the abuse they suffered, to be listened to and have their voices heard. This study will offer a safe space for people to do that.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: 

“We recognise the importance of fully understanding the prevalence of child abuse in faith settings and the impact it has had on victims and survivors.

“This research will help inform how we can best address the needs of those affected by historical clerical child abuse. I would encourage people to come forward and take part in the study, to share their lived experience and tell their stories about what happened in their own words.”

The study is one of three pieces of research which have been commissioned to examine the extent and systemic nature of historical child abuse in faith settings in Northern Ireland. The work will be overseen by the Interdepartmental Working Group (IDWG), which was set up to oversee research and develop recommendations in respect of historical Mother and Baby Institutions/Magdalene Laundries as well as historical clerical child abuse (HCCA). These are areas that were not covered by the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry.

Professor Tim Chapman has been commissioned to carry out the study. 

He said: “I would encourage anyone who would like to, to come forward and take part in this study. Our team has significant experience in engaging with victims and survivors and will ensure that you are given a voice and enabled to relate your individual lived experience as part of a confidential process.

“I would reassure everyone that participants will be supported in telling their story through a victim-centred approach with access to qualified counsellors for those who need them.”

Lisa Caldwell, chair of the Interdepartmental Working Group, explained: 

“This is an important milestone in this crucial programme of research. When the three research pieces are complete, we will provide Ministers with recommendations on the proposed way forward. Lived experience will form a key part of these recommendations.”

If you would like to participate in the oral history study, please contact Tim Chapman at timchapman@rjteam.net or call him on 07351940491, before end of February 2025.

The Dromore Group Press Note: NI Executive launches call for survivors of clerical sexual abuse to tell their stories

Date published: 9 January 2025

  • Following the scoping inquiry into childhood sexual abuse in schools run by the Catholic Church in the Republic of Ireland ( O’Toole report, June 2024), on 8 January the Northern Ireland Executive announced it will run a similar exercise to identify those abused as children in Church settings.
  • Unlike the Republic’s scoping exercise, the NI project is cross denominational. It addresses all faiths and includes schools overseen by NI’s main Churches and religious congregations.
  • The Dromore Group sees the initiative of the NI Executive as a critical step in building intelligence against which the Assembly will be able to address policy gaps and weaknesses in dealing with child sexual abuse, particularly involving faith-based organisations; and critically in ensuring greater accountability, particularly of the Catholic Church, for those sexually abused as children by priests and Christian Brothers through Catholic schools and parishes.
  • In a press statement, Michelle O’Neill, First Minister, said those abused by clergy ‘deserve truth and justice and must be heard. Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, said it was important to fully understand the ‘prevalence of child abuse in faith settings’. Both minsters particularly underlined concerns of the impact of clerical sexual abuse on victims and survivors.
  • Lisa Caldwell, who chairs Stormont’s Clerical Child Abuse Working Group, coordinates the story- telling project. The results of the project alongside wider research on clerical sexual abuse including safeguarding, will feed into policy recommendations to be submitted to the NI Assembly in June 2025. She says ‘lived experience will form a key part of these recommendations’
  • Tony Gribben who was abused by Fr. Malachy Finegan at St. Colman’s College, Newry, says the story-telling project provides an opportunity for those who have still not disclosed their abuse to come forward, in full confidentiality. ‘Disclosure empowers’ he says, ‘and is a first step in the fight for accountability, truth and justice’. He adds, ‘those sexually abused by Catholic clergy across Ireland make up a hidden crisis. This project aims to shine light into the darkest corners of our society. The project works towards determining the scale of clerical sex abuse across N. Ireland’.
  • The Dromore Group has been campaigning for an independent public inquiry into sexual abuse of children across schools and parishes in the Diocese of Dromore.
  • The story-telling project is led by Tim Chapman known for his work on sexual abuse by the Spiritan Order in the Republic of Ireland. Deadline for contacting Mr. Chapman is 28 February 2025.

About the Dromore Group

The Dromore Group comprises survivors of clerical sexual abuse from the Diocese of Dromore, and their families. The purpose of the Group is to a) raise awareness and understanding of clerical sexual abuse, b) support survivors and those in the process of litigation, and c) provide advocacy and advisory inputs to government and other bodies working on clerical sexual abuse.

More information